Our Early Pioneer Room honors the men and women who helped settle this region:
- Brief histories of local characters including Hugh Glass, whose story was told in the movie The Revenant, the Sundance Kid, Deadwood Dick, Dora Dufran, and Fee Lee Wong
- A display from Fort Meade, including a rifle and bear-skin coat used by soldiers at the fort
- A display honoring the Buffalo Soldiers who were stationed at Fort Meade
- A brief history of the Battle of Slim Buttes which was the first major confrontation between soldiers and Native Americans following the Battle of Little Big Horn
- A display featuring Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane
- Displays featuring the mining era in the Northern Black Hills,
- A history of early Spearfish
- Photographs depicting early tourism efforts in the Black Hills, including the creation of Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse
- Photographs and descriptions of farming and ranching in the area
- A display featuring the forestry industry in the hills
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