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From military expeditions to gold mining boomtowns, outlandish business ventures to stunning national parks, the Black Hills teem with history as rich as their natural beauty. Inspired by field trips that he organized for his classes at Black Hills State University, David A. Wolff has distilled decades of experience exploring, researching, and teaching the history of this majestic region into accessible and informative self-guided tours.
In February 1876, John Brennan and his associates decided to abandon their mining claims and create a service center modeled on Denver, Colorado. Dubbed Rapid City, the town overcame a rocky start to become “the Gateway to the Black Hills.” In this tour, you will discover how Rapid City and the gold towns of the central Hills adapted to changing times and conquered the dreaded boom-and-bust cycle. Featuring maps by the South Dakota Department of Transportation and dozens of photographs, Wolff’s historical synopsis provides just the right amount of context for each site on the route, along with precise mileage and directions. By tour’s end, you will have completed a mini-course in Black Hills history!
Reviews
“I've been poking around the Hills for 39 years and I've found little gems in this book I didn't know existed. . . . I recommend picking up a copy of this book whether you are on your first trip to the Hills or a longtime resident. There's something for everyone.” — Bill Markley (Roundup Magazine, Oct. 2025 issue)
“Thorough and detailed travel book with history and geology tidbits. Very informative and interesting to read. . . . It is as if you have a super-well-informed tour guide as you move from location to location. This is not a history tome, but a lively discussion of the people and places that make the Black Hills a very special place. This is part of a multi-volume series. I got this one as it is the area I grew up in so I can evaluate the information. He is a terrific observer and researcher, almost a social anthropologist.” — Amazon reviewer
“Impressively well written, accessibly organized, reader friendly in presentation, Black Hills History Tours: The Gateway to the Hills by Professor David A. Wolff is nicely illustrated throughout with B/W historical photos, as well as featuring an eight page Bibliography and a nine page Index. A fun and fascinating read from cover to cover, this paperback edition of Black Hills History Tours: The Gateway to the Hills from the South Dakota Historical Society Press is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and college/university library South Dakota History and Travel Guide collections.” — James A. Cox, Midwest Book Review