NPS Photo Archive

Visitors waiting at the Cave House to Wind Cave

On December 7, 1900 the Department of Interior announced:

A Washington special says that Secretary of the Interior has affirmed the land office decision in the case of the South Dakota Mining Co. and the Black Hills Wind Cave Co. against Jesse D. McDonald.

NPS Photo

Elmer McDonald Business Card

The decision declares that neither party is entitled to it, that in the first place it is not mineral land and the plaintiff therefore has no claim to it and in the second place McDonald did not comply with the law relating to the cultivation and his entry is held for cancellation. The secretary also directs that the land be held in reserve until congress shall have had an opportunity to create a permanent reservation there.

The land was withdrawn from settlement January 18, 1900. On September 12, 1902 Captain Seth Bullock, became the supervisor of the Wind Cave.

NPS Photo

Wind Cave National Park's First Visitor Center

The Pioneer-Times reported: Capt. Bullock appointed George Stabler and wife, Elmer McDonald and Peter Paulson as guides and has furnished the following rules:

• The cave will be open to visitors from 9 am until 5 pm. Night excursions will not be allowed.
• No vandalism or spoliation of the Cave or its natural beauties will be permitted.
• The guides will be held responsible for the safety of visitors and prevention of spoliation.
• The guides will be permitted to charge the usual fee of fifty cents for each person they conduct through the cave.
• No disorderly characters will be admitted to the cave at any time.
• The hotel concession has been granted to George Stabler and wife.