Historic Cabin’s Front Porch

Historic Cabin’s Front Porch

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Location:

Custer, SD

Significance:

Part of Jewel Cave National Monument

Designation:

National Monument

Amenities

8 listed

Audio Description, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Information, Parking - Auto, Picnic Table, Recycling, Restroom - Seasonal, Trash/Litter Receptacles

Mammals

A variety of mammals can be seen. It is always critical to remember that these mammals are wild and should not be approached or fed by humans.
Some of these interesting mammals include, but are not limited to, rodents such as porcupines, chipmunks, and red squirrels. Also of intrigue are ungulates such as white-tailed deer, mule deer, and elk.
Fascinatingly, Bighorn Sheep are the most regularly spotted surface mammal within Jewel Cave National Monument’s borders. This is indicated by U.S. Highway 16 crossing signs, illustrating that Bighorn Sheep often cross the roadway into Jewel Cave National Monument territory. Jewel Cave National Monument’s Historic Area is one of their favorite places to hang out.

Carnivores

The mountain lion, coyote, bobcat, gray fox, striped skunk, and long-tailed weasel are all found at Jewel Cave National Monument. If you spot a carnivore, definitely be sure to keep your distance and protect yourself.

Reptiles

Jewel Cave National Monument is home to nine different species of snakes. These include the bull snake, common garden snake, eastern yellow-bellied racer, milk snake, plains hognose snake, ringed neck snake, smooth green snake, plains garter snake, and, importantly, the prairie rattlesnake. Each of these species plays a critical role in the ecology of the Black Hills. It is important to know that out of these nine different species; the prairie rattlesnake is the only venomous snake in South Dakota. While the bull snake may coil and make rattlesnake noises, the prairie rattlesnake is the most important one to keep an eye out for.

Historic Objects

The front porch was once home to a kiosk, a Pepsi machine, and a water fountain. 

Witness Trees

The ponderosa pine trees at the cabin's front porch have witnessed decades or potentially centuries of human history in the area. This includes automotive history. Thus, earning these ponderosa pines the title, “witness trees.” While fascinating from an automotive perspective, these trees were also witnesses to the Civil Conservation Corps, devastating forest fires, countless visitors passing by throughout the decades, and so much more, all the way till today. It is fascinating the human history stories that these trees can tell.

• Historic Cabin’s Front Porch

  
  

  Standing on the Historic Cabin front porch, a variety of animals man be seen. Beyond the fascinating mammals and reptiles at Jewel Cave National Monument, this stop allows us to look back through human history as well.
  Audio Transcript

  Standing on the Historic Cabin front porch and looking east, a variety of mammals can be seen. It is always critical to remember that these mammals are wild and should not be approached or fed by humans.

  Some of these interesting mammals include, but are not limited to, rodents such as porcupines, chipmunks, and red squirrels. Jewel Cave National Monument porcupines are elusive. However, keep your eyes to the skies because they tend to spend a lot of their time in the trees and thus safe ly off the ground. The most prevalent chipmunk you will see at the Monument is the Least Chipmunk. Red squirrels are abundant at Jewel Cave National Monument. Chances are, if you don’t see one, you’ll probably hear one as you walk on the 3.5-mile Canyons Trail loop.

  Also of intrigue are ungulates such as white-tailed deer, mule deer, and elk. White-tailed deer are commonly spotted grazing or lying down in a shady spot, cooling off from the midday heat. Mule deer thrive on the approximately four miles of rocky hills within the Jewel Cave National Monument borders. The mule deer on Monument grounds are often seen resting throughout the Canyons Trail. Elk are rarely seen during daylight hours; however, their tracks and scat are seen throughout Jewel Cave National Monument’s Canyons Trail loop as well. For reference, this audio stop is currently on the Historic Area section of this magnificent trail.

  Fascinatingly, Bighorn Sheep are the most regularly spotted surface mammal within Jewel Cave National Monument’s borders. This is indicated by U.S. Highway 16 crossing signs, illustrating that Bighorn Sheep often cross the roadway and National Park boundary into Jewel Cave National Monument territory. Jewel Cave National Monument’s Historic Area is one of their favorite places to hang out.

  Along with Jewel Cave’s various rodents and ungulates, the National Monument is also home to various carnivores. These include the mountain lion, coyote, bobcat, gray fox, striped skunk, and long-tailed weasel. If you spot a carnivore, definitely be sure to keep your distance and protect yourself.

  Arguably, the most unique carnivores present on the Monument property are the mountain lions, coyotes, and bobcats. While mountain lions are among us, they are rarely ever seen. Mountain lions are the apex predator in the Black Hills and are the second biggest cat in the entire Western hemisphere, after the jaguar.

  Lone coyotes are also often spotted along the Canyons Trail loop. These coyotes are the most abundant predator found at Jewel Cave National Monument. Coyotes can often be heard howling and yipping within their pack in the morning and evening hours on Monument grounds.

  Bobcats specialize in killing rodents and birds, and like to stalk their prey in the tall grass along the Canyons Trail loop. Bobcats are rarely ever seen, but their presence can be identified at Jewel Cave National Monument through their tracks and their scat.

  Lastly, Jewel Cave National Monument is also home to nine different species of snakes. These include the bull snake, common garden snake, eastern yellow-bellied racer, milk snake, plains hognose snake, ringed neck snake, smooth green snake, plains garter snake, and, importantly, the prairie rattlesnake. Each of these species plays a critical role in the ecology of the Black Hills. It is important to know that out of these nine different species, the prairie rattlesnake is the only venomous snake in South Dakota. While the bull snake may coil and make rattlesnake noises, the prairie rattlesnake is the most important one to keep an eye out for.

  Beyond the fascinating mammals and reptiles at Jewel Cave National Monument, this stop allows us to look back through human history as well.

  Shown in the virtual image attached to the audio tour stop, this location once had a kiosk, a Pepsi machine, and a water fountain. While the soda and water machines will be discussed at a later stop, it is important to reflect on the role of the kiosk, adjacent to the porch, and the Ponderosa pine trees directly behind it.

  The information kiosk, shown in the attached photo, was constructed in the 60s and demonstrates the foot traffic patterns of the area. This kiosk was likely established to move Visitor Center operations to an independent area outside the cabin’s hybrid living room and exhibit space. With kiosk windows facing the Canyons Trail path, between the cabin’s front porch and the modern-day grass patch, this information kiosk was likely constructed for foot traffic alone and not automobiles.

  With that being said, it is worth noting that the trees in the background of the information kiosk would have witnessed decades or potentially centuries of human history in the area. This includes automotive history. Thus, earning these ponderosa pines the title, “witness trees.” During this automotive era, cars ranging from the Ford Model T to the 1960s Ford Thunderbird could have theoretically been located in the Historic Area parking lot. In the process, these vehicles are being seen by four witness trees that are currently situated directly across from the cabin’s front porch.

  While fascinating from an automotive perspective, these trees were witnesses to much more than just automotive history. These trees were also witnesses to countless parts of human and earth history. This includes the craftsmanship of the Civil Conservation Corps workers, devastating forest fires, countless visitors passing by throughout the decades, and so much more, all the way till today. Coming from the perspective of these four trees, located directly to the southeast of the cabin’s front porch, these trees tell a fascinating story of history.