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