The Black Hills of South Dakota are a culturally rich area filled with scenic drives, monuments, western history, and attractions to keep the whole family entertained.
Through the Ponderosa forests near
Keystone you’ll find Mount Rushmore and the beautiful scenery surrounding this National Memorial. Continue on towards Custer and find the work in progress that is Crazy Horse Memorial, the world’s largest mountain carving.
Take a scenic drive through Custer State Park on the Needles Highway. This National Scenic byway was built in 1922 after being deemed impossible to construct by various critics. The 14-mile drive is full of sharp turns, granite tunnels and the impressive granite spirals that made Custer State Park famous.
Discover western history and culture still very much alive in Deadwood. Old West shootouts and reenactments still take place daily on Main Street during the summer months. Grab a drink and watch a reenactment at the same saloon where Wild Bill Hickock met his fate, and then take a walk up to Mount Moriah, where you’ll find the final resting places of Wild Bill Hickock, Calamity Jane and other legends of the wild west.
Just east of Rapid City are The Badlands, a beautiful view like you’ve never seen before. The National park is home to a wild population of bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs and black-footed ferrets. Looking closer into this geological wonder, you’ll find one of the world’s richest fossil beds. Continue on to explore The Mammoth Site, an active paleontological dig site boasting the largest concentration of mammoth remains in the world.
The Black Hills are full of culture, history, and adventure just waiting for you to arrive.
Western Dakota Tech is easily accessible from all portions of Rapid City, the Black Hills, and the region, as well as by air travel through Rapid City Regional Airport. If you need additional directions, please contact Western Dakota Tech at (800) 544-8765, (605) 718-2565, or admissions@wdt.edu. We invite you to visit campus any time for a tour. We look forward to seeing you at Western Dakota Tech.