The
Black Hills Fort Pierre Railroad Roundhouse was built in Lead in 1901. This facility has just undergone a $2
million renovation that offers an impressive “Victorian Theme” throughout.
We invite your
students to tour our Railroad Historical Interpretative Center that explains
the importance of early railroads in the northern Black Hills. The Center includes an “O” scale model of the
Roundhouse as it looked in 1901, there is a 12 foot by 8 foot wall mural that
shows where the trains ran and includes over 30 historic pictures at different
locations. A 9 minute video explains the
building and operation of both the Black Hills Fort Pierre and the Deadwood
Central Railroads. In addition we have a
display case of railroad artifacts and several historic railroad pictures.
The highlight of your tour will be the Living
Map. This is a 40 minute program that
explains both the history and geography of the Black Hills Gold Rush of 1876.
The
story is told on a 28 by 24 foot - 3D, colored map, featuring over 1,000
lights. The lights take you from place
to place on the map while film on a 13 foot square screen will show you what
those events looked like. The students
will feel a part of this unfolding story with a surround sound system that
includes narration, sound effects and character voices. Already
Lead / Deadwood fourth and fifth grades were thrilled and informed by this
educational and entertaining presentation.
Your cost for
this historical and geographical experience is $2.00 per student and $4.00 for
teachers and parents, which is half of regular price. Total time at the Roundhouse is 60 to 75
minutes.
A second tour
is also available at the Black Hills Mining Museum in Lead. We are proud to inform you that the Mining
Museum is the only museum in the state to be selected as an associate member of
the Smithsonian Institution.
This mainly attributed to our basement that is laid out as a life size,
underground mining level at Homestake.
The displays follow the progress of mining techniques of underground
mining over the past 125 years. Lots of
hands-on for the students includes pushing a plunger to set off a simulated
blast.
On
our first floor there are several models, artifacts, pictures and other experiences
that explain the history of mining and Lead.
Your cost is
$3.00 for the students and accompanying adults are free.
Total time at the Mining Museum is 75 to 90
minutes.
http://www.mining-museum.blackhills.com/
Lead has a
large public park that would be ideal for a sack lunch break. If preferred,
Lead has many eating establishments and we would be happy to make arrangements
for lunches at a cost that would agreeable to both parties.
Contact:
Wayne or LeeAnn Paananen
Good
as Gold Gifts and Antiques and Living Map Theater
106
Glendale Dr., Lead, SD 57754 605-717-0296