Lead, SD

Quick City Facts

County: Lawrence
Population (2019): 2,943
Population (2010): 3,124

Data provided by US Census Bureau (2019)

High in the Black Hills, perched precariously on its steep inclines stands one of South Dakota’s most memorable communities – Lead. While located just minutes from Presidents Park, Deadwood, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Spearfish Canyon, Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, Custer State Park and Devils Tower, Lead is your ideal vacation headquarters. A half-dozen hotels, bed and breakfasts, unique restaurants, private attractions, parks and museums allow visitors to relax and savor the beauty of the Northern Black Hills.

History

Lead was originally founded as a company town by the Homestake Gold Mining Company, which ran the nearby Homestake Mine in 1876.  Phoebe Hearst, wife of one of the principals, was instrumental in making Lead a good place to live, establishing the Hearst Free Public Library in town, and in 1900 the Hearst Free Kindergarten. She donated regularly to Lead’s churches, and provided college scholarships to the children of mine and mill workers. Lead and the Homestake Mine, now closed from mining, have been selected for the site of the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory, a proposed NSF facility for low-background experiments on neutrinos, dark matter, and other nuclear physics topics, as well as biology and mine engineering studies. The Homestake mine is the largest and deepest mine in existence at 8,240 feet.

Recreation/Community Events

Daylight hours offer hiking, horseback riding, rock climbing, mountain biking, hunting or fishing in spring, summer or fall. In winter, 7,000 foot peaks and crisp mountain air greet guests at Deer Mountain and Terry Peak ski resorts. Snowmobilers enjoy 300 miles of groomed snowmobile trails, while cross-country skiers explore a limitless sea of white.

The Homestake Visitor’s Center and Black Hills Mining Museum provide an inside look at mining and its history in the Black Hills.

Contact Information

  • Lead Area Chamber of Commerce, 160 W. Main Street, Lead, SD 57754
  • Phone:  1-877-428-5590
  • Email: leadcoc@mato.com
  • www.leadmethere.org

 

Popular Attractions

Best Western Black Hills Lodge

Best Western Black Hills Lodge

Spearfish

Lewie’s Saloon and Eatery

Lewie’s Saloon and Eatery

Lead

Pump House at Mind Blown Studio

Pump House at Mind Blown Studio

Deadwood

Visit Spearfish, Inc.

Visit Spearfish, Inc.

Spearfish

Alaska Cafe

Alaska Cafe

Lemmon

Firehouse Brewing Theatre

Firehouse Brewing Theatre

Rapid City

Joshua’s Coffee House

Joshua’s Coffee House

Hartford

La Luna Cafe

La Luna Cafe

Sioux Falls

Dakota Brick House

Dakota Brick House

Vermillion

Glacial Lakes & Prairies Tourism Association

Glacial Lakes & Prairies Tourism Association

Watertown

Swiftel Center

Swiftel Center

Brookings

Joy Ranch

Joy Ranch

Florence

Urban Canvas

Urban Canvas

Brookings

Look’s Marketplace

Look’s Marketplace

Sioux Falls

Ichiban Sushi Bar & Japanese Cuisine

Ichiban Sushi Bar & Japanese Cuisine

Rapid City

Pints & Quarts

Pints & Quarts

Brookings

Dakota Sioux Casino & Hotel

Dakota Sioux Casino & Hotel

Watertown

Ramada Summerset/Rapid City West

Ramada Summerset/Rapid City West

Summerset

Great Faces. Great Places.

South Dakota is an incredibly unique state in that each region offers a completely different experience then the others. Check out each of the regions to see what each has to offer!

Badlands

Western South Dakota

Featuring the Black Hills, Badlands, the Sturgis Rally. This region tends to be the most popular.

CENTRAL REGION

This region of South Dakota offers some of the best hunting and fishing in the entire central US. 

Eastern Region

The eastern region is home to the largest city in the state and provides visitors with a true "prairie" experience.