National Register of Historic Places

Wind Cave National Park Administrative and Utility Area Historic District

Custer, Custer County, South Dakota
Listed
July 10, 1984
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
84003259

About this property

The Wind Cave National Park Administrative and Utility Area Historic District comprises the central portion of Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota. The district centers on the historic entrance to Wind Cave, which is surrounded by park administrative and interpretive structures, most of which were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. The historic entrance to Wind Cave, discovered in 1881, was modified to allow better access to the natural entrance by blasting. Between 1892 and 1894, a new passage was created by blasting to allow visitor access, with another entrance blasted in 1936 by the CCC. The same year, a visitor center was built a short distance away overlooking the stream valley behind. Auxiliary buildings include the 1905 Superintendent's Cottage, the 1934 Superintendent's Residence, several employee residences, a ranger dormitory and mess hall, and other structures, mostly dating to the 1930s. The planned landscape blends with its environment, using a modified version of the National Park Service Rustic style. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 11, 1984. NPS.gov—Wind Cave National Park: The Wind Cave Historic District Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. SD-9, "Wind Cave National Park, Administration & Operator's Building, Approximately 2.5 miles southeast of U.S. Route 385, Custer vicinity, Custer County, SD"

Location

Custer, Custer County, South Dakota
43.55691, -103.47542

Categories

CONSERVATIONPOLITICS/GOVERNMENTLANDSCAPE ARCHITECTUREENTERTAINMENT/RECREATIONARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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Conflict & War
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The Civil War
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The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
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Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
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Literature
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Spotlight
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Nearby Historic Sites

Beaver Creek Bridge
Industrial
2 mi
Pig Tail Bridge
Civil War
3.2 mi
Streeter, Norman B., Homestead
Listed
4.8 mi
Cold Springs Schoolhouse
Civil War
4.9 mi
Log Cabin Tourist Camp
Listed
7.8 mi

Questions about this property

When was Wind Cave National Park Administrative and Utility Area Historic District listed on the National Register?

Wind Cave National Park Administrative and Utility Area Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 10, 1984.

What type of historic resource is Wind Cave National Park Administrative and Utility Area Historic District?

Wind Cave National Park Administrative and Utility Area Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Wind Cave National Park Administrative and Utility Area Historic District?

The period of significance for Wind Cave National Park Administrative and Utility Area Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Wind Cave National Park Administrative and Utility Area Historic District?

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