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THE 1881
CUSTER COUNTY COURTHOUSE
DAKOTA TERRITORY, 1881
The constructed of bricks kilned locally, is of
Italianate design. Built in 1880 and open January 1881 in Dakota
Territory eight years before South Dakota became a state. This building
was the hub of Custer County development from 1881 to 1974.
It has been a Museum since 1976 now dedicated to preserving the
history of the area.
The Museum has been preserving and displaying
Custer County history through the efforts of the Custer County
Historical Society with the help of many volunteers.
This building was placed on the National Register
of Historic Places by the United States Department of Interiors on
November 27, 1972.
Description
of Exhibits and a self guided tour of the Museum:
THE CUSTER
EXPEDITION ROOM
features photographs taken by Illingworth on the
1874 Expedition into the Black Hills led by famed Civil War General
George A. Custer. Artifacts on display include a rifle used by Custer to
hunt antelope at Fort Hays, Kansas, his shoulder epaulets, a first
edition of his book, My Life on
the Plains, items found at the campsite west of town, a fan given to
a friend by the Custers, and remains of a tree bearing carving by one of
the members of the expedition. Horatio N. Ross, discoverer of gold on
French Creek, was with the expedition.
MINING &
INDUSTRY
of the late 1870’s and the 1880’s is shown in
a mine replica and display of tools used for mining, including gold
sluice and rocker box. Minerals
of Custer County and the surrounding Black Hills are displayed in the
center case including gold ore which brought miners here in 1875 and
rose quartz, the official state gemstone. Mining, lumbering and ranching
were major sources of income in the early years.
Tourism has become the county’s second most important industry
since the designation of the Black Hills National Forest in 1889, Jewel
Cave National Monument in 1908, and Custer State Park and Wind Cave
National Park in 1913.
IN THE MAIN
HALL
Hanging signature quilts, made as fund-raisers for
the Museum, are based on the wagon wheel design of a quilt made locally
in 1897 as a church fundraiser.
There are cases featuring new displays annually.
In the Alcove is a display of women’s time saving devices of the
1800’s and early 1900’s.
Women’s work is never done!
OUTSIDE,
Museum's out building and Exhibits
are a hand-hewn log building housing
printing equipment from Custer’s 1879 first continuously operated
NEWSPAPER; a brick building (originally the outhouse!) housing
early BLACKSMITH forge and tools; the site of Custer County’s only legal
hanging; and a CARRIAGE HOUSE with
vehicles used in the 1870’s to 1920.
UPSTAIRS –
Top Floor
FORESTRY room
featuring a replica of a sawmill, logging tools, and unique examples of
tree growth.
COMMUNITIES room features
pictures and artifacts from towns in Custer County, The first Poet
Laureate of South Dakota Badger Clark, The Hanging of John Lehman and
the lynching of Lame Johnny. Information on
Civilian Conservation Corps.
JURY Room has new exhibits annually, this
year is a Military display
showing artifacts from WWI WWII,
Korea and Revolutionary wars. Also display of the Paha Sapa
pageant that was haled during Gold Discoverer Days.
The COURTROOM features the original
courtroom with cherry wood furniture.
JUDGE’S
CHAMBER filled with
Law Books (marked Dakota
Territory), plus office equipment
ONE-Room
SCHOOL with teacher and students shows how the three Rs were taught
in the 1880s. It also
features a tableau of Annie Tallent, teacher, author
and the first white woman in the Black Hills
RANCH Room features
early-day brands, tools, barbed wire collection, and antique saddles and
tack and veterinary tools.
GROUND FLOOR:
GENERAL
STORE, where anything from teakettles to neckties was sold, and part
of the old Fairburn Post Office furnishings.
The
Original JAIL, complete with prisoner.
A law enforcement officer display is nearby.
There is a large display of antique business machines. The large
oak case features a KNIFE display collected locally, while the wall
cases display antique GUNS that won the west. Other cases feature
changing exhibits. In the foyer is a painted mural and also, the
newspaper account of the killing of Abe Barnes by FLY SPECK BILLY.
UPSTAIRS –
Main Floor
the
VICTORIAN BEDROOM
featuring an 1870s bedroom suite,
the PARLOR, also with Victorian furnishings.
THE
BOOKSTORE
offers fine books, and videos showcasing local
authors and local history, unique items of regional interest, and
children’s books and games.
Custer Historical playing card are available be for $7.50. If you would
like to order books call or e-mail us. We can arrange to ship your
selections for you. Income
from the Book Store helps to support the Museum’s needs.
ACROSS
MOUNT RUSHMORE ROAD
is the OLDEST Building in the Black Hills
known as the Flick Cabin.
It was
built in 1875 and used as a military headquarters and as a residence.
It is furnished as a pioneer home.
Pioneer historian Henry Way gave the cabin and land
for Way Park so that it could be preserved.
There is also a monument to Horatio Ross in Way Park.
Scavenger Hunts:
For children of all ages we have age appropriate
scavenger hunts of the Museum for free.
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