History & Culture

Stone circles such as this one tell us about the people who lived in the Black Hills long before settlers. Many different nations have called this area home.

NPS Photo

 

Wind Cave National Park has been home to many different groups of people over the years. From the native people who have called the Black Hills home since time immemorial to the cavers who survey and study the cave today, every stone, tree, and building has a story. Visit the pages below to learn some of the park's stories.

 

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  Lakota Emergence Story

  Find out why Oniya Oshoka, also known as Wind Cave, is so significant to so many people.

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  Civilian Conservation Corps

  The Civilian Conservation Corps was integral to the development of Wind Cave National Park.

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  Cave Exploration

  Learn more about the early visitors to Wind Cave, as well as today's explorers and the places they see.

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  Buffalo Jump

  Before the introduction of the horse, the native people of the Great Plains used buffalo jumps as an efficient way to hunt bison.

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  Caving Narratives

  Read about some significant discoveries in Wind Cave through summaries of caving trips.

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  Sanson Ranch

  Learn about the historic Sanson Homestead, part of Wind Cave's newest land addition.

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  Wind Cave Timeline

  See the important dates and events in Wind Cave's history, from the 1800s to the modern day.