Wind Cave National Park Time-Line Before 1881... American Indians of the area have many stories about a hole in the Black Hills that blows wind. Tipi rings near the natural entrance indicate that they knew about Wind Cave. 1881 Cave noticed by Tom and Jesse Bingham. They take credit for "discovering" the cave. Later Tom received most of the credit because of Jesse's brush with the law for cattle stealing in 1889. Charlie Crary credited with first entry into the cave. 1884 First documentation of a visit into the cave by Custer Chronicle. 1887 Hot Springs Star reports Wind Cave is 3 miles long. 1889 South Dakota Mining Co., run by Robert B. Moss, establishes mineral claims on cave area. J.D. McDonald, Elmer, Alvin and Mary move to Hot Springs. South Dakota becomes a state. 1890 South Dakota Mining Co. under Robert Moss files three claims on land around cave. J.D. McDonald hired as manager of Wind Cave by South Dakota Mining Co. J.D. agrees to file homestead claim on area which he will later deed to the South Dakota Mining Co. 1891 Moss and McDonald disagree and McDonald assumes the claim. Chris Jensen begins stage route to Wind Cave. Stablers move to Hot Springs in June, manage Parrott Hotel starting July 4, and visit cave during the summer. First religious services in Methodist Church room. Stablers take homesteads around cave. 1892 Areas around cave surveyed, prior title by possession only. Stabler buys a half or a third interest in Wind Cave. Wonderful Wind Cave Improvement Company established. William Jennings Bryan and Governor Lee visit cave. Discovery of Fairgrounds. Petrified man, found "north of the cave", exhibited in the cave for $0.25. Later exhibited in Hot Springs and then sold by John Stabler to a man in Kansas. 1893 Stabler or Wind Cave Hotel built and opened in 1895. R.B. Moss files against the Wonderful Wind Cave Improvement Company. Professor Paul Alexander Johnstone finds a lady's hat pin hidden in the cave. Peter Folsom files mining liens on South Dakota Mining Co. and Moss for failure to pay for assays, liens include Wind Cave. SD Mining Co. vs McDonald suit is dropped. Alvin McDonald dies on December 15th at the age of 20. 1894 J.D. files on homestead. J.D. and Elmer McDonald and George and John Stabler file on Wind Cave property. Peter Folsom purchases claims of SD Mining Co. G.A. Moss does not appear in court to contest Wind Cave ownership. Wind Cave case-McDonald/Stabler vs SD Mining Co. postponed. Statue of Alvah McDonald completed by sculptor Riordan from Evans pink sandstone. 1895 Court confirms Folsom purchase of title for Wind Cave and other Moss claims. J.D.'s mother patents homestead west of Elmer McDonald's. J.D. probably secured receiver's receipt for his homestead. 1896 SD Mining Co. vs J.D. McDonald case is decided in favor of McDonald. John La Favre receiver of US Land Office at Rapid City states Wind Cave property ownership is uncertain. McDonald was at Wind Cave before the land was surveyed and held the land by squatter's rights making final proof in June 1895 and claiming it as an agricultural homestead. SD Mining Co. had a mineral claim and argued that McDonald had claimed the land as agricultural while assessing it for another party for a mineral claim. Aug. 16 Luella Agnes Owen, geologist, visits cave. Her theory on cave formation involves geyser activity. 1897 Conflict continues between McDonald and Stabler. McDonald has Stabler arrested; Stabler gains possession of the cave. Stablers join with Folsom - file new mining certificates. Court sets aside McDonald's receiver's receipt. J.D. and Elmer file against Stablers in March and April. Folsom counterfiles McDonald. Sheriff Wallace takes possession of cave by court order and turns it over to Folsom. 1898 Black Hills Wind Cave Co. of Custer County formed by Folsom, Stablers and Peter Paulsen. Elmer McDonald works as guide for above company. SD School of Mines publishes 19 page report on Wind Cave. 1899 General Land Office agent C.W. Greene reports no evidence of legitimate mining development at Wind Cave. McDonald wins in the SD Mining Co. vs McDonald case. McDonald's homestead entry canceled because of lack of good faith in occupying the homestead. 1900 J.D. and son, Roy hid in cave for 24 hours after attempting to hold cabin at Wind Cave. Secretary of Interior, Hitchcock confirms land office decision. He states neither party is entitled to the land as the land was not mined and McDonald did not comply with the terms of the Homestead Act. 1901 Permanent withdrawal by US 1000 acres of land around cave entrance from mineral or agricultural entry. Col. C.W. Green, Dept. of the Interior, is placed in charge of the cave. C.L. Jensen is made the general supervisor and George Stabler and Elmer McDonald work as guides. There is no fee to enter the cave. US government decides to survey Wind Cave. John Stabler dies - little family opposition to park idea. Claims of Elmer and J.D. McDonald canceled because of inadequate evidence. 1902 First government survey of cave completed in April. Bill to establish Wind Cave National Park passes the US Senate and House of Representatives. Captain Seth Bullock becomes the new supervisor of Wind Cave and appoints George Boland as the area ranger. George Stabler, Elmer McDonald and Peter Paulsen work as guides and are allowed to charge visitors $ 0.50. 1903 Wind Cave enabling legislation passes and signed by President Theodore Roosevelt on January 9, creating Wind Cave National Park. Park includes 10,522.17 acres. Wind Cave becomes the first cave to become a national park in the world. William A. Rankin - Superintendent (Aug. 1) Cave tour fee $0.50. 1904 Irene B. Rankin granted first food concession. Noon meals are $0.50 and she continues until 1908. 1906 First Superintendent's stone cottage built. 1907 Earthquake causes rockfall in cave on Oct. 25th. 1908 Jewell Cave N.M. established. 1909 Joseph E. Pilcher - Superintendent (May 1). 1910 Rufus J. Pilcher - Superintendent (March 26). General Pershing visits cave with pocket aneroid barometer, guides refuse to believe cave room depths. Forest fire over 2,500 acres in park, started outside south boundary and burned close to the cave (March 23-25). 1911 A.C. Boland - Superintendent (May 1). J. Alden Loring's report on land in SD suitable for a game preserve sent to Franklin W. Hooper, American Bison Society. Two new flagpoles were installed. One at the Superintendent's residence and one at the South boundary of the park. 1912 William M. Boland - Acting Superintendent (June 11). Wind Cave National Game Preserve established within current park boundary under administration of the US Biological Survey, Dept. of Agriculture. A barn for the use of the Superintendent was completed during the year. 1913 Fred Merle - Custodian (Nov. 15). Frederick N. Dille - Acting Superintendent (Dec. 2). National Bison Society sends 14 bison from New York Zoological Gardens. A registration office was built - frame building 20' X 40' - the Old Hotel. The People's Telephone & Telegraph Co. built a new telephone line from the south boundary to the Superintendent's house. 1914 Thomas W. Brazell - Superintendent (Aug. 1). Ester Cleveland Brazell - ranger guide at Wind Cave, possibly making her the first woman to hold the title of ranger in the National Park Service. 21 elk arrive from Jackson Hole, WY. 13 pronghorn arrive from Brooks, Alberta sent by the Boone and Crockett Club of New York. A small rectangular pavilion was constructed. 1915 Built an ice house - 12' X 12' X 10' high. An underground reservoir of masonry one-foot thick with capacity of 450 barrels was built and connected to new sanitary drinking fountain near public building. The new reservoir is located 70' above and 300 feet distant from the park residence. Water source is ½ mile west of and 150' higher than the park residence. Spring put out about 40 barrels per day. Now with both new & old reservoirs park has capacity to store 800 barrels of water. 1916 T.E. Brazell - Superintendent (March 16). 25 elk arrive from Yellowstone NP. 9 pronghorn arrive from Alberta, Canada. 6 bison arrive from Yellowstone NP. Rockfall occurs at entrance on March 26. Organic Act establishes the National Park Service in the Department of the Interior on August 25. Water flow increased to about 50 barrels average for 15 months and is now up to 76 barrels per day. Beginning June 1st cave fees were reduced to .25 per customer (.50 was old charge) 1917 "It is the custom for authorized guides to conduct visitors through the cave, and as a trip requires about three hours, but two trips each day are made. The established time of entrance is at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. As a great many auto tourists do not know of the established time for cave trips, they cannot mange to get here at the right time and often do not wait for the trip and cannot be accommodated unless extra guides are available. The widest publicity should be given as to time of entrance to the cave which would result in eliminating a great deal of disappointment and a very substantial increase in the number of visitors to the interior if the cave." 1918 One of four large bridges (#4) was replaced by permanent earth fill and masonry arched culvert. Inside closets (anti-freeze) have been installed in the administrative buildings and modern septic vaults and disposal drains have been provided for the reception of sewer from both residence and administrative buildings. Supply pipe from spring to reservoir replaced at depth of 4'. A roomy corral was built. A footbridge was built across gulch from the administrative building to Alvin McDonald's statue was built. Taulbet and Coventry constructed in Administration building (April). 10-car auto shelter completed (July). "By order of the State authorities the cave was closed to the public on account of quarantine against Spanish influenza" (October 20). 1919 Road through the park is 6 miles long and is part of the Denver-Deadwood highway. Animals in game preserve - 54 bison, 100 elk, 21 antelope. "A big sign was constructed on the west slope of the big steep hill just east of the entrance to the cave which is a great benefit to the traveling public." Letters are 20' high (June). 1920 Supt. Brazell reports 1500' depths and over 100 cave miles. Two mild tremors are felt in cave on July 14 and Aug. 30, but no resultant damage found. Custer State Park Game Preserve established north of Wind Cave with 5,800 acres. Wedding in the Garden of Eden in May. Visitors to the park were Baron Eugen Fersen and his mother, Baroness Medem, of Moscow, Russia (August 16). Lots of snow - drifts up to 25' deep were not uncommon. Park officials made their first arrest. Two men who stole a new car in Rapid City and were passing bad checks were turned over to the Sheriff (September 29). 1921 "The striking feature of this season's travel was the remarkable increase of motoring tourists and the disastrous decrement of train travel. This year's record shows an increase in motoring and camping tourists of over 34% and a decrease in train travel of over 40%." 1922 Fossil Cycad NM established under Wind Cave management. Present concessionaire is Roy W. Juckett. The concession is a permit to haul for hire, passengers from Hot Springs to Wind Cave and return. 1923 E.A. Fuson - refreshment concessionaire. Over 92% of cave visitors came to the park in private automobiles. Revenues from all sources totaled $4,109.25. 1924 Number of visitors to this park has more than doubled in the past five years. 130 buffalo, 7 antelope, 2 deer & approximately 300 elk. "An adequate electric lighting system for the cave should be installed at the earliest practicable date. This is very important. A good draft team, harness and wagon should also be purchased." 1925 126 buffalo, 250 elk, 13 antelope. New house over entrance to the cave was built. 1926 Fee raised to .50 on September 1. Nearly all 51+ miles of road was reconstructed this year. Had to start hauling water to meet demand. 1927 148 buffalo, 143 elk, 23 antelope. 1928 Anton J. Snyder - Superintendent (June 10) reports cave discovered in 1881 by John Wells, formed by hot water, and 108 miles in length. Water shortage/limited supply 800 gal/day 500 visitors/day. Permanent employees - Superintendent & 1 ranger - 12 seasonal rangers hired. Stephen T. Mather, Director of the NPS, paid visit to Wind Cave National Park in July 27. 1929 Norbeck Dam constructed, forming Lake Ta-Tan-Ka. Contract was awarded to Gould and Herrin of Denver. Mt. Rushmore NM authorized under Wind Cave management. 175 buffalo, 95 elk, 25 antelope. First time that hay had to be fed to game animals. Park road was reconstructed and new gravel added. The newly constructed road between the north boundary and Pringle was opened for travel in May. It is now 9 miles long not 13 miles. Contract has been let to the Northwest Engineering Company of Kadoka, SD for the construction of the concrete arch bridge to span Beaver Creek Canyon. 1930 Concessionaire - C.C. Gideon. Funds appropriated for resurfacing roads, construction of water and sewer systems, electric lights for cave and a ranger dormitory. 100 buffalo, 80 elk, 30 antelope. 1931 Edward D. Freeland - Superintendent (March 16). Park boundary changed (includes Beaver Creek Canyon area), park is 11,818,94 acres. First electric lighting system installed. Finished grading and surfacing the north-south highway. Constructed a complete water and sewer system. A 2" water main was laid at a depth of 4' from the main. 4" line to the powerhouse and new dormitory site. Kepp Construction Company received the contract to construct the ranger's dormitory/mess house and completed the building on Sept. 5th. Agreement signed with McAdams to sell government 2 springs and 101 acres. Added a permanent clerk to park staff on May 31, 1931. Fire hydrants were installed with the new water system. "This new water and sewer system should take care of all sewer and water problems for years to come." Power plant constructed of natural stone and stucco Set aside an area to serve as a campground. 1932 Spring water system was constructed ($50,000) - (Cost was $43,300-turned back $ 6,700). Surplus water directed to the artificial lake known as the buffalo reservoir. Construction included an employee's residence (Q-07) and a two-car garage attached to the Superintendent residence. 200 buffalo, 50 elk, 50 antelope. Lawns were planted in May at the ranger dormitory, the new employee residence and the old employee's residences. 2 ¾ miles of fence was constructed around the Upper Spring Area. The north-south highway was oiled. Director Albright visited the Park in September 1932. 1933 Jewel Cave NM transferred from USDA to USDI. Wind Cave Lake was nearly filled by spring rain. In June a Ranger was detailed there on hot days as a lifeguard. Road surface was given a palliative oil treatment (October 31). Started work on "Custer-Newcastle Approach Road" 8.6 miles. Old car shelter, oil and icehouse were moved to a location less conspicuous. Work on the Civil Work Project began on December 11th with 44 men. 1934 Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp established at WICA (July 16). Work began on 204 foot elevator shaft (August 20). Jewel Cave National Monument was placed under jurisdiction of this office. Under Public Works project, $222,100 was allocated for: Two employee quarters (Q-03, Q-06) and machine shop shed, elevator installation with power house, Administrative Building, highway surfacing and widening and construction of cave trails. 5000 brook trout were planted in Beaver and Cold Spring Creeks. Director Cammerer visited the Park on July 13. 1935 Wind Cave NP gains authority over Game Preserve lands on June 15 ending dual authority on the land. Otis elevator installed, it travels 700 feet/minute and carries 12 people. Elevator installation with power house and 120 HP diesel engine - Cost $ 71,996.63 + $2,500.00. The concrete lining of the elevator shaft was completed in April. Installation of the elevator by Otis Elevator Company was completed in October. Concrete stairs and iron railings installed in cave to replace wooden ones. VIP Center completed as power house for elevator. Administration Building construction begins. Contractor was Henry Carlson Company, cost $35,987.00. Constructed new Superintendent's Residence (Q-03). Constructed new employee's residence (Q-06). Constructed 9 car machine shop shed. Total cost of all three was $19,475.89, under contract. ECW Camp D-NP-1 was established near park headquarters on July 16. Severe drought in 1933 & 1934 continued in 1935. The new 25,000-gallon reservoir was completed. The foundation of the old residence (Q-05) was completed and the building was moved in February. Installing sprinkler systems in the residence area kept 15 men busy in February. CCC accomplishments - remodeled an old shingled residence, planted 5,000 trees and shrubs in headquarters area, sloping more than 35,000 sq. yds. of road shoulders, obliteration of several old roads and borrow pits and improvement of 1-1/2 miles of cave trails by installing concrete stairs with iron railings. Monthly Narrative Report of December: First elevator breakdown occurred on December 15, 1935. Problem was "a defective resistance coil and the precipitation of moisture on switches and other controls from the cooling of the warm moist air rising through the shaft from the Cave." It now appears that this trouble will recur frequently during cold weather unless the elevator door openings at both landings in the cave are made airtight by the construction of special entryways resembling storm doors. It is contemplated that this work will be done in January. 1936 Cave entrance reconstructed - trap door replaced with "natural looking" entrance. Rewiring of long route begun. Rock fall at entrance on March 1st. Cave tour fee $0.75. CCC Camp won the CCC baseball championship for South Dakota. In January, nine street light poles and fixtures were erected at 125' intervals along the entire length of the parking lot. The headquarters enclosure fence was completed. Footbridge from Administration building to cave entrance was completed. CCC Projects: Fencing of park boundary project was completed; a small basement under one of the headquarters residences was enlarged to make room for storage and laundry facilities; the old 75-foot flight of wooden stairs just inside the cave entrance was completely replaced with concrete. The stone terrace in front of the ranger clubhouse was completed in September. A small basement was excavated under the clerk's residence and the Arcals heating plant moved in. 1937 New cable put on long route by CCC. Small campground built north of cave entrance by CCC, now the picnic area. CCC Projects: Dormitory room constructed in Ranger's Clubhouse; the incinerator at the utility area was completed; basement was excavated in the Ranger's Clubhouse for relocating the furnace; betterment of cave trails; construction of stone walks in parking lot; transplanting of trees; information sign and construction of reservoir. The old fireplace in the Ranger's Clubhouse living room was torn out and a new one constructed. The old Ranger dormitory is being remodeled for use as a residence. The basement retaining walls were completed in March. The first annual encampment of Lakota took place on July 18-22 with 55 people in attendance. Construction of the new elevator building began in December. 1938 Second Annual encampment of Lakota from Pine Ridge. Park took over maintenance of park roads on July 1. CCC crews completed the box culvert in the utility area (lagoon area) in December. The underground garage (Fire equipment) was completed in November. The elevator building was completed in December by CCC labor. Statistics: Building time: 10 months; 210 working days; Expenditures: 4,900 man days @$2.00/day= $9,800.00; Materials =$ 3,786.62; Supervisor = $4,500.00; Total cost of the building = $18,086.62. 1939 Harry J Liek - Superintendent (May 18). Model made of cave room (Model Room) for V.C. exhibit. Badlands NM established under Wind Cave management. CCC projects completed: 100 yards of stone guardrail were installed on either side of Administration Building.; 102 trees were planted in the vicinity of the headquarters area; sewage disposal system and sewerline extension with a plant for disposal were installed. Utility Garage "A" - 2 story, 12 stall garage was under construction but not completed in FY39. Water supply from Upper McAdam Spring decreased from a recorded maximum of 24,000 gal/day to 7,000 to 8,000 gal/day between May & August. January 25, 1939 - Badlands was made a National Monument 1940 Projects completed: Garages "A" & "C", filtration plant, spring development and 2.5 miles of underground telephone lines leading through the park. CCC Projects nearing completion: headquarters area landscaping, oil house, service road and fenced utility area. Addition to Superintendent's house (Sun Room). Fire Tower on Elk Mountain. Telephone to utility area. 119 buffalo, 150 elk, 75 antelope. Water supply was a serious problem throughout the summer. The upper McAdams springs was only pumping 2700 gal/day in August. 5000 gal/day were hauled from Hot Springs. CCC Projects completed before CCC ended; Garages A & C in Utility Area, Slow Sand Filter, Coal bunker, Utility area, Spring development, Pit Toilets, Campground Area. The installation of the massive wooden door at the cave entrance was completed on July 13th. CCC Camp was abandoned on October 31, 1939. 1941 Rained at the spring - Upper McAdams spring went up to 37,400 gals/day in June compared to 9,750 gal/day in June 1940. Projects completed by CCC's side-camp SP-3 (Custer State Park): finished stone guard rail, Utility area service road, oil house, Utility area fence, Clean-up of tornado area, repairs to incinerator, tree planting, replacement of 3000' of electric cable in cave, resurfacing cave trails and enlargement of Superintendent's residence basement. 1942 CCC camp closed. Two murals, painted by wildlife artist Walter A. Weber, were donated. Cave tour fees reduced from $.75 to $.50. 163 buffalo, 180 elk, 135 antelope. CCC work from other camps completed: Obliteration of the old CCC Camp, razing of old warehouse at utility area, rock crushing for road maintenance, telephone line to utility area from headquarters, buffalo corral improvements. 1943 Superintendent from Wind Cave supervised Wind Cave, Mt. Rushmore, Badlands & Jewel Cave. Visitation dropped by 50.88% from 19,174 in 1942 to 9,757. A 5-ton rock was dislodged by frost action and blocked the cave at the foot of the first flight of stairs. Maintenance problems: electrical generating units had numerous breakdowns, water filling the sump at the foot of elevator shaft, deterioration of road from heavy truck traffic. Sawdust burners were installed in 5 residences to save from buying fuel oil. 1945 A small amount of water continues to seep through the wall of the elevator shaft (first occurred in 1943). Buffalo tested for brucellosis results showed that 85% of herd might be reactors. Maintenance on Game Fence started. 1946 Park boundary expanded to include most of Custer Recreational Demonstration Area and Federal Game Sanctuary (28,059.26 acres). Concession opened for the first time since the 1942 travel season. A large 8-ton limestone fragment broke off and blocked the trail near the walk-in entrance. Tentative plans for making a double cave entrance door are in the making. Brucellosis infection in bison herd is being brought under control by vaccinating all calves. Maintenance of Game Fence is still #1 priority on our maintenance and rehabilitation programs. Interior finish of the Elevator Building has suffered much damage from the moisture carried up the shaft. 1947 Devil's Tower NM established in 1906, put under Wind Cave management. Park visitation and usage increased 305% over the last pre-war travel years. 85,144 visitors entered the park. On August 9, 1946 Park was increased from 11,718 acres to 28,059 acres. Poaching has become a serious problem. Highway patrol was discontinued due to need of using all rangers for guide duty; consequently, there was much indiscriminate driving off the road. June 20 - 4.25" of rain fell in 4 hrs and 3.25" in the next 30 hours. It caused damage to water and sewer lines, telephone lines, washed out surfacing and destroyed electrical wires in first 500' of cave, destroyed 10 flood gates and washed out section of North-South highway, destroyed many sections of fence. Cost of repair will be $10,000 -$15,000. The elevator was the cause of considerable concern and failed to operate properly much of the time. Much work needs to be done in addition to the usual quarterly inspections. It is believed that a safety test is needed, as such a test has not been made since the installation of the elevators. Floodgates in fence all need to be replaced. Black Hills Power & Light Co. completed construction of their line to the park in November. Park has received 24-hr. electrical service since that date. Cost less than running our old diesel unit 16 hrs/day. 1948 Wind Cave Superintendent supervised Badlands, Devils Tower, Fossil Cycad and Jewel Cave National Monuments and Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Poaching of park animals continues to be a vexing problem. Building rehabilitation consisted of interior & exterior painting of the Administrative Building and some of the residential buildings. The bulk of the flood damage incurred on June 20, 1947 was cleaned up and repaired. The North-South highway requires extensive repairs. It is the poorest stretch on U.S. 85A between Edgemont and Custer, SD. 1950 William J. Watson - Acting Superintendent (May 5). 1951 Earl M. Semingsen - Superintendent (July 23). 12 pronghorn arrive from Yellowstone NP. Heating and hot water systems were modernized in various residences. Two residences were re-wired. Funds appropriated and allotted for construction of new boundary fence. 50% of work completed at the close of the fiscal year. 1952 Original fire lookout station built on Rankin Ridge consisting of cedar pole topped with crows nest. Natural History Association formed. Revenues collected from fees for guide and elevator services were approx. $25,135.20. Automatic traffic counters installed on the highways. Construction of new wildlife boundary fence was completed at the close of the fiscal year. Rehabilitation projects completed included (1) complete repair, redecoration and renovation of the elevator shaft and building, (2) premix surfacing of foot trail from Administrative Building to Elevator Building, (3) insulation of 8 residential and administrative office buildings with Insol-Fiber and new windows for two residences (4) reline incinerator. Surface seal coating of park highways completed. Acquisition of Highway 87 from old North boundary to the new North boundary was made from State and County authorities, as well as Routes 65 & 66 in the newly acquired land area. 1953 Golden Anniversary of Wind Cave NP celebrated with "Show Me Days" and Lakota ceremony. "With the arrival of the newly approved quarters rental rates for Government-owned buildings, employees morale hit the lowest ebb in the history of the Park. (AR-FY53) Rates increased over 100%. 100 buffalo and 30 elk were released into the State Park. The buffalo herd now stands at 412 animals + this years calves. Elk number between 1000 and 1200 + arriving calves crop. Rankin Ridge Fire lookout station was established and radio-equipped. Contracts completed: rebuilding of new cattleguard; reconstruction of boundary fence and utility roadwork. 1954 Beginning June 16, the guide and elevator fees were increased from .50 to .75 including tax. A new cave entrance historical sign was constructed and erected at the discovery "Blow Hole". One trailer house was purchased for seasonal ranger quarters. A new 5000-gallon oil storage tank was purchased for Wind Cave. Water source supply for park use declined to approx. 5000 gal/day and consumption totaled 8000 gal/day. Walt Disney Production announced the completion of the movie entitled "The Vanishing Prairie" which was largely photographed in the Park. The Superintendent was re-assigned the immediate control and administrative responsibility for Jewel Cave and Fossil Cycad National Monument's with the closing of the Black Hills area office at Rapid City on April 24, 1954. "Thousands of park visitors are turned away and/or decline taking advantage of the cavern tour due to the lack of guide service. Less than 65 for every 1000 that travel through the park by motor vehicle can be accommodated to visit the cavern." A new roadside Prairie Dog Exhibit was constructed at the Norbeck Prairie Dog Town. 208 buffalo were baited into Custer State Park and 20% of this number were slaughtered for distribution to Indian groups and organizations. Custer State Park crews, supervised by Park rangers, to reduce the herd to approximately 400 animals killed approximately 700 elk in the Park. Three black-footed ferrets were released in the Park. (??? by Walt Disney Productions Inc.) 1955 Third rewiring project started, completed in early 1956. Millionth visitor took cave trip on Aug 10. 240,000 gallons of drinking water was hauled to the Park from Hot Springs. The prairie dog town parking area project was nearly completed at the close of the fiscal year. 1956 Steel tower replaces wooden pole lookout on Rankin Ridge. Highway 87 opened, connecting Custer State Park and WICA. Photo floods put in Temple Room in the cave. Black light demonstration put in at Frostwork Ledge in Fairgrounds Room in the cave. Cave Re-wiring Project was completed in March. Drilling of a water well started in December 1955 and was completed in April 1956. 791 feet deep with a maximum yield of 39 gallons/minute. Contract was awarded for highway construction, Route 2, North Entrance Road. This project will eliminate the last stretch of surface highway linking Custer State Park to Wind Cave National Park. Automatic dial telephone was installed in the Park. 1957 Fossil Cycad NM turned over to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on September 1. The new North Entrance Road was completed. (Park Route 2; State Highway 87). The new water well in Wind Cave Canyon and the pipeline to tie it to the present water system were completed in March. A memorial plaque to Alvin McDonald was erected at the grave in July. Seven routed interpretive signs were installed at six parking areas on the new Entrance Road. FM radio mobile units were installed in six vehicles. Black Hills Power installed new overhead power lines to the residential area, Administrative building and utility buildings. A conversion and consolidation of the carpenter, plumbing and mechanical shops was completed. New steps were constructed from the South parking area to the Elevator Trail. A new back porch was constructed on Residence 3. A new heating system was installed in the garage and repair shop. ** The new water well and pipeline, the North Entrance Road and the construction of the new roadside trail signs were MISSION 66 Projects. 1958 Cave tours were discontinued for the first time from November 1, 1957 to March 31, 1958. Interpretive road patrols were started for the first time. Harley Emick - Seasonal Fire Aid. A 46' long culvert was installed and replaced washed out bridge on Route 6. Eight roadside signs were pushed over by a car. (Vandalism). All surfaced trails in headquarters area were seal coated. Routes 5 & 6 were graded and reshaped. The utility yard was enlarged and fenced. Residence #8 was provided with new drain and a concrete floor. MISSION 66 Projects: The Construction Roadside Trail Sign Project exhibits with the stone bases was finished at the end of June, the Reconstruction Cave Entrance and Trails Project was finished, the heating of the Elevator Building was completed, Elevator #1 and #2 Project was contracted with Carter Elevator for $110,868. 1959 Second elevator installed. NSS Expedition to Wind Cave Park received one of the large bronze Stephen T. Mather plaques. The cattle guards at all six entrances were painted yellow as a highway safety measure. A new 10-car employee parking area was constructed adjacent to the elevator building. 857 steps in the cave were painted yellow along the riser edge as a safety measure. The elevator building was completely renovated on the interior and exterior and all three levels were painted. The plastered ceiling in the Maintenance Supervisor office, the oil storage house and portions of the ceiling in the Concession portion of the Administration building fell and were repaired. MISSION 66 Projects: The three roadside entrance and one double exhibit signs were completed; Game Ranch obliterated; Buffalo Corral obliterated; O'Neal property purchased. The project for the installation of a completely new elevator and the remodeling of the old was stalled on September 26, 1958 and will be complete in June 1959 for a total cost of $114,687. 1960 Jess H. Lombard - Superintendent (Jan. 24). Concessionaire - M.C. Gideon. Campfire programs given at campground. Rankin Ridge Nature Trail completed. Installed hydrochlorinator. 1961 Rankin Ridge road and parking area completed. 1962 Five spelunking tours led by Colorado Grotto members. Installed and rehabilitate trans-houses. 1963 Elk Mountain Campground opened, old campground still used. Dave Schnute, Herb and Jan Conn discover the Spillway. Passage eventually leads to over 70 miles of cave. Public address system installed in visitor center. 1964 Single rockfall near Cathedral on March 18. Headquarters Fire burns 14,000 acres (6,000 acres in park). Park lagoons built. 1965 First Christian Ministry in park. Apartment units constructed. Wind Cave designated official fallout shelter. Large pool of water (5x10') found off Club Room. Elk Mountain Campground road and parking areas. 1966 Warren D. Hotchkiss - Superintendent (Feb. 27). 210 visitors on single tour - largest group to date Cave length 10.53 miles. 1967 US 385 by-pass completed. Experimental spelunking tour given by Dave Schnute. First photographic tours given. First candlelight tours given. Cave entrance flooded in June; visitors on entranceway stairs caught in knee-deep water. No injuries occurred. 1968 Highest cave visitation to date. 1969 Alvin W. Peterson - Acting Superintendent (June 15). Lester J. McClanahan - Superintendent (July 27). 1970 Cave tour fee $1.00. Windy City Grotto members discover Windy City Lake. 1971 Windy City Grotto members discover Half-Mile Hall. 1972 First discovery tours given. Windy City Grotto exploring cave for 3 days/2 nights on a rotating basis. Explorations between 1970-1972 lead to the discovery of 14 new miles of cave passage. 1973 Concessionaire - Carl Oberlitner and Dick Turbiville. Garden of Eden area improved for use. Wood escape steps replaced with aluminum steps before visitor season begins. Windy City Grotto discovers 6 miles of cave making a total of 26 surveyed miles. Wind Cave becomes the 4th longest cave in the U.S. Rediscovery of Columbian Hall. 1974 Concessionaire - Carl Oberlitner. First living history candlelight tours given. Assembly area shelter built in Spring. 1975 John Hoogland begins prairie dog research. 1978 Wind Cave Relay Race begins. Rehab Cave Lighting Project. Replace asphalt with concrete curbs. 1979 Visitor Center remodeling and expansion begins by Corner Construction of Rapid City at a cost of over $1 million. Elk Bugling Programs begin. Lowell Butts - Facilities Manager. Norman W. Salisbury - Chief Naturalist. Spelunking tours $2.00. 1980 Fourth lighting system installed (12/79 - 4/80). Visitor Center improvements finished June 18 and reopens on June 21st. Dedication of lighting system and visitor center on Sept. 6th with SD Senator George McGovern as speaker. Cave length on Dec. 31 was 34.3 miles. Youth Adult Conservation Corps program begins - 2 enrollees. Elk round-up (88 elk). Martha Schilling - business manager of Wind Cave NHA. Celebrate Earth Day with Hot Springs Elementary. 1981 Cave discovered 100 years ago. Cave tour fee $1.00 for Half-Mile and $1.50 for Mile tour. Triangle Fire - largest in the Black Hills at this time. Wind Cave has 34 miles, Jewel Cave has 66 miles. Commemorative Newspaper celebrates 100 years of discovery at Wind Cave. Alvin McDonald's diary acquired. Oglala Sioux encampment at Wind Cave for protest ownership of the Black Hills. Constructed 3,370 SF asphalt surface vehicle turning bay with concrete, stucco and rockwork retaining wall and wood garbage storage bin at south side of VC/Admin Building. Solar hot water heaters installed. 1982 Kay Rohde - Assistant Chief Naturalist. Indian Oyate Return to the Paha Sapa Ceremony, 5th year. Cave tour fee $2.00 for Half-Mile, $3.00 for Mile and Candlelight and $4.00 for Spelunking tour. Flooding of cave entrance in the spring. Indian encampment. Prairie Dog reduction program begins. Completed 14,000 SF expansion to existing VC/Administration and Concession Building. Upgraded entire facility - Contract Project $1,101,664. Transformer disposal contract. Rehab sewer system - Cleaned 6,230 LF, TV inspection of 5,945 LF, slip-lined 1,799 LF of 8" line. Installed two service connections, six manholes and rehabbed five manholes. Replaced 100 picnic tables in the Elk Mountain Campground. Flood through Wind Cave Canyon on May 22. Log jam at floodgate below pumphouse. 1983 James A. Randall - Superintendent (March 6). Cave tour fee $3.00 for Half-Mile tour, and $4.00 for Mile, Candlelight, and Spelunking tours. Steve D. Bone - Chief Ranger. Centennial Parade, Hot Springs, SD. Evening surface activities resume. Bison brucellosis program restarted. Repaired and rehabilitated buffalo corrals. Installed new catwalks, holding pens, gates and steps. 1984 Campground goes to self-service. YCC begins with 6 enrollees. Cave management position - part-time seasonal. Cave passes 40 miles in total surveyed length. National Cave Rescue Commission (NCRC) holds training seminar at Wind Cave. National Speleological Society has trips into Wind Cave in conjunction with their national convention in Sheridan, WY. Earthquake during the fall. Blow Hole connected into Wind Cave. First draft of Cave Management Plan completed. Bison round-up. 1985 Ernest W. Ortega, Superintendent (March 31). Elk transferred to Theodore Roosevelt NP, ND. First federally funded research begins at Wind Cave (hydrology). Cave passes Friars Hole, WV to become 3rd longest cave in the US at 42.5 miles. Evening surface activities dropped. Cave management position - full time seasonal. Radio location work in Wind Cave by Frank Reid of Indiana. Spelunking tour $5.00. William Swift - Chief Naturalist. Rewire quarters, new sewer lines. 1986 Cave goes over 45 miles. Backcountry use started. Concrete trails replace asphalt in cave. Bison herd declared brucellosis free, quarantine lifted. Cave length by year's end is 48 miles. Elk round-up. Wind Cave-Jewel Cave Natural History Association formed. 4,000,000th cave visitor 8th Annual Wind Cave Invitational Relay Race. 5 new lakes discovered by Jim Pisarowicz and Bob Kobza. Environmental Education pilot program. 1987 Largest prescribed fire in Black Hills 2,460 acres. Cave closed temporarily because of high winds (at entrance speeds greater than 70 mph). Custer State Park joins WC-JCNHA Gary Kiramidjian - Supervisory Park Ranger Formalized Environmental Education program called Connections begins. August 15 - Wind Cave passes 50 miles of mapped passages. Bison round-up, 270 bison, first population decrease since quarantine was lifted. YCC 8 students from Hot Springs participate. Wind Cave Film Festival. Mother's Day Open House. Rediscovery of "The Lonely Palace". Boundary increase of 240 acres. Installed a new deep well pump, sensor wire and associated piping. 1988 Karri Fischer - business manager WC-JCNHA. WC-JCNHA renamed Black Hills Parks and Forests Association. Cave lighting project, incandescent lights replace fluorescent. Cave restoration also takes place. Wind Cave at 51.3 miles (7th longest in the world), Jewel Cave at 76.33 miles and Mammoth Cave, KY at 325 miles. Prairie Patchwork evening hikes leaving from campground amphitheater for 1½-2 hours. Cave rescue seminar. National Speleological Society Convention in Hot Springs, SD. YCC program with 12 students. Galena Fire in Custer State Park, 17,000 acres. Rehab sewage lagoons. Installed 8' high chain link fence and two gates around the sewage lagoons. Rehab campground comfort stations. Constructed seven