Location: Lead
Top Things to do in Lead
Top Restaurants in Lead
Top 10 Things to do in Lead, United States
Lead (/ˈliːd/ LEED) is a city in Lawrence County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 3,124 at the 2010 census. Lead is located in western South Dakota, in the Black Hills near the Wyoming state line.
Restaurants in Lead
1. Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 246 reviews
A brand new building in 2015, amazing views of the open cut, surface tours of the old Homestake Mine and the current operations of the Sanford Underground Lab! The exhibits are beautiful and scenery is amazing!
Reviewed By alibarbaraMilwaukee - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Arrive a bit early to enjoy the visitor center- a lot to see in the displays which paint the history of the place. Then the trolley ride with a tour guide went through the city of Lead, which was like a bonus. The guide did a great job of tying economics, local history, and the workings of the mine together. We learned so much. Our son was 12 and he didn't really get much out of it though. Not sure younger kids would enjoy much beyond the trolley ride.
You don't get to walk inside the mine, I guess we had expected that. No more gold mining occurs here, but you will learn about what is done there now.
2. Adams House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 360 reviews
The Historic Adams House was built in 1892 by Deadwood pioneers Harris and Anna Franklin. Local contemporary press described the home as "the grandest house west of the Mississippi." The elegant Queen Anne-style house heralded a wealthy and socially prominent new age for Deadwood, a former rough and tumble gold mining town. Harris and Anna Franklin’s son Nathan bought the house for $1 in 1905. In 1920, Nathan Franklin sold the house to W.E. and Alice Adams for $8,500. Adams' second wife Mary closed up the house in 1936, two years after W.E.'s death, leaving the contents and furnishings intact. By 1987, an infirm Mary Adams Balmat sold the mansion to a couple who renovated the house and operated it as a bed and breakfast inn until 1992 when they sold the home to the City of Deadwood’s Historic Preservation Commission.
Reviewed By Paul G - Tucson, Arizona
I read the one terrible review and wondered if the individual had visited the same house that I did. To have this magnificent home lay undisturbed for 51 years, the contents intact and no sign of vandalism just boggles the mind. Add in the fact...MoreThank you for writing a fantastic review about the Adams House. We are so pleased you enjoyed this magnificent historic home. We hope to see you in Deadwood again! We are so grateful the house withstood time and was restored to its original grandeur.
3. Adams Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 539 reviews
The Adams Museum is the Black Hills’ oldest history museum. In 1930 pioneer businessman W.E. Adams founded the Adams Museum in downtown Deadwood with the purpose of preserving and displaying the history of the Black Hills. The Adams Museum is home to some of the Black Hills’ greatest treasures including Potato Creek Johnny’s gold nugget, beloved American illustrator N.C. Wyeth’s pencil sketch drawing of Western legend Wild Bill Hickok, the mysterious Thoen Stone record of the Ezra Kind party’s discovery of gold in the Hills in the 1830s and a one-of-a-kind plesiosaur (marine reptile). In addition to exhibits on all three levels, the Adams General Store is located on the main floor.
Reviewed By Ron T - The Villages, Florida
Very good historical and educational items on display. There were also numerous out of the ordinary items. It doesn't take long to view the displays so I wouldn't schedule much time for the museum.Thank you for your nice review of the Adams Museum. We are pleased you found the collections on display to be educational and that you enjoyed the out of the ordinary artifacts as well. We appreciate your time in Deadwood.
4. Roughlock Falls State Nature Area
Overall Ratings
5 based on 66 reviews
Reviewed By seek-scenic - Kinnelon, New Jersey
It is a very pleasant mile walk from Spearfish Canyon Lodge past meadows, water, and canyon walls to reach Roughlock Falls. We visited in June and there was plenty of water in the falls. Alternatively, you can drive to a parking lot at the top of Roughlock Falls and walk down a cement path to the bottom of the falls but if time and walking ability permit, it is nicer to walk along the trail from the lodge.
5. Black Hills Mining Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 115 reviews
Walk through time with the "miners" in timbered passages of a simulated underground gold mine, constructed by over 130 Homestake miners. View historic mining artifacts and local history exhibits. Pan your own gold and visit the gift shop.
Reviewed By Cacher2017 - Edmonton, Canada
Stopped at the Black Hills Mining Museum while in Lead. Great tour of the museum's minesite re-creation with Debbie. Informative and fun. The museum itself is a wealth of information and artifacts from the mine and the community when the mine was in operation.
6. Mt Roosevelt Monument
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 135 reviews
Reviewed By Deanne A - Arizona
This is a short hike - one mile round trip. But super worth while. The gravel and bumpy road is about 2 miles off the main road, to reach the trailhead. From there, it's about half a mile each way with a loop option, which I did. It's a little steep, but only a 200 ft elevation gain that's gradual over the first 1/2 mile. That gets you to the tower and there is a path to left of the tower to a further overlook that's really worthwhile. From there take the left path (left of the tower after the lookout) for a further lookout which uses the loop trail before joining the main trail again. All just a total of a mile, but totally worth it.
7. Tatanka: Story of the Bison
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 289 reviews
Reviewed By bjm1271 - Lyndhurst, New Jersey
If you have any interest in Native American history or even a fan of the movie Dances with Wolves, I recommend visiting if in the area. We drove up from Keystone to spend the day in Deadwood. The introduction video was really interesting in seeing what the original plans were and how much time and effort Kevin Costner put into this. Tours are available. The outdoor walk to the statues is short and should be easy for all ages. The statues and the level of detail are amazing.
8. Discovery Tours
Overall Ratings
5 based on 34 reviews
Reviewed By stgard - lyndon, kansas
My wife and I took the southern hills tour, we had just drove for a couple of days to get there and didn't want to fight the traffic at the sites, Our driver John was great, we had a very small group and were in a mini van. It was the best 100 dollars you will spend(included a great lunch). I would recommend to anyone going to take this tour. It was nice to let someone else do the driving. I would also recommend calling the earliest date you can, to assure a spot. I reserved mine 3 months ahead of time.
9. Broken Boot Gold Mine
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 283 reviews
Pan for gold in this historic gold mining area.
Reviewed By GALAXY67 - CUYAHOGA FALLS
WE were in Deadwood,part of the sturgis rally,and decided to tour this goldmine,it was like $6 or so,we liked that u got to go pretty deep in the mine,great to hear the guide explain how gold was mined back in the early century,take plenty of photos,our guide was very knowleadgeable,takes about 45 minutes,you wear a hard hat,at the end of the tour,you are issued a real one share mine certificate,great tour!!
10. Dakota Shivers Brewing
Overall Ratings
5 based on 21 reviews
Reviewed By as3dgfad6 - Iowa City, Iowa
We were on a recent motorcycle trip to the Black Hills and spent a couple nights in Lead. The first night we went to Dakota Shivers Brewery. It is a small brewery in an old storefront. Inside it is very pleasant and the staff was...MoreThanks for visiting and taking the time to review. Glad you enjoyed your visit and hope to see you again.
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