Federal Legislation
JANUARY 9, 1903 -- Establishment Act
- established boundaries
- provided authorization to Secretary of the Interior to manage the lands and underlying caverns as well as to establish such services as deemed necessary
AUGUST 10, 1912 -- National Game Preserve Act
- established a National Game Preserve at Wind Cave NP
- established a national range for a herd of bison to be presented by the American Bison Society
MARCH 4, 1931 -- Boundary Expansion
- expanded the park boundaries by 1,200 acres to provide water resources for the reserve's wildlife
- stated that Wind Cave NP now subject to all laws and regulations applicable to such a park
AUGUST 28, 1931 -- Water Source Purchase
- purchased deed to 101 acres, 10-foot right-of-way and access easement for domestic water supply
JUNE 15, 1935 -- End of Dual Management
- abolished National Game Preserve effective July 1, 1935, transferring land to Wind Cave NP
- stated that lands still subject to laws and regulations expressed in the act to establish the game preserve
JUNE 16, 1938 -- Surplus Wildlife Disposal Act
- authorized the Secretary of Interior to sell or otherwise dispose of surplus buffalo and elk
- stated the all monies received from the sale would be deposited in the US Treasury as miscellaneous receipts
- stated that most of the surplus animals would be given to Indians or charitable institutions for food or for starting herds of their own
AUGUST 9, 1946 -- Boundary Expansion
- expanded the park form 11,718 to 28,059 acres from former Recreation Demonstration Lands
- conveyed Section 25 to the State of South Dakota as State School Lands
- provided for a minimum of 10,000 gallons of water per day to pass from Custer State Park to Wind Cave NP
NOVEMBER 10,1978 -- Boundary Expansion
- added approximately 232 acres to the southern boundary
- Congress appropriated funds in 1980 and 1987
- property purchased in November, 1987 subject to egress and ingress and a right-of-way easements
State of South Dakota Legislation
MARCH 8, 1947 -- Highways Relinquished to Wind Cave NP
- relinquished to US use, construction and maintenance of the portions of public highways within Wind Cave NP
- ceded the jurisdiction of the highways to the US
FEBRUARY 27, 1980 -- Concurrent Jurisdiction
- ceded to Wind Cave NP, Mount Rushmore NM, Badlands NP and Jewel Cave NM concurrent jurisdiction
- accepted by the NPS through letter to governor