History & Culture

a circle of stones in a brown prairie with a cloudy dark sky
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.

 
  • Bison on the prairie

    Lakota Emergence Story

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

  • Men hauling cement into the cave.

    Civilian Conservation Corps

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

  • a carbide lamp sitting on a honeycomb shaped cave formation

    Cave Exploration

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

  • a short reddish stone cliff above a grassy meadow

    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.

  • a man in caving gear standing on a rock in a dim, large cave room

    Caving Narratives

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

  • several old wood buildings in a green grassy valley next to a small stream with a few trees

    Sanson Ranch

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

  • a man in ranger uniform sitting on a model T car looking at bison in a black and white photo

    Wind Cave Timeline

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

Last updated: September 19, 2020

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

26611 US Highway 385
Hot Springs, SD 57747

Phone:

605 745-4600

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