| Located at the foot of Mount Rushmore is the tiny | | | | for you to leave with genuine 24k gold! |
| town of Keystone. Here you can eat, stay, get your | | | | The mine also contains a museum which is a replica of |
| souvenirs and take advantage of some of the local | | | | the Tycoon Gold Mill built in 1895 on the Big Thunder |
| tourist attractions. One of which is the Big Thunder | | | | Property. The museum contains one of the largest |
| Gold Mine. | | | | displays of original gold mining equipment in the Black |
| Big Thunder Gold Mine, originally named the Gold Hill | | | | Hills. See a Stamp Mill, Crushers, Winches, Assay |
| Lode, was discovered in 1893. The mining work was | | | | Office, Cooper and Wilfrey tables, and hundreds of |
| done by two German immigrants, W.B. Krupp and J.A. | | | | artifacts. Discover the method of how gold is |
| Engle. Mr. Engle owned several mines in the Keystone, | | | | processed from hard rock. |
| four of which remain on the Big Thunder property. | | | | The museum is cool, but the best part of the visit is |
| Current exploration shows positive potential for future | | | | panning for real gold that you get to take home. |
| gold mining in Keystone. Exploration companies have | | | | I remember when we went to Alaska for our |
| been working in the area and have leased mineral | | | | honeymoon one of the excursions on the cruise was |
| rights on the Big Thunder property. | | | | the ability to pan for gold. We did not choose it, |
| A visit to the mine allows you to tour an authentic gold | | | | because it was way too expensive. But at this mine, |
| mine and have tour guides take you on an adventure | | | | you are guaranteed to find something. That is the best |
| which includes Black Hills gold mining history, geology, | | | | part. |
| museum displays, and the opportunity to take home | | | | The mine also started a new tour where they take |
| your own gold ore sample. | | | | you on a candlelight tour of the mine. They are not |
| Placer mining is the retrieval of free-gold from the sand | | | | sure if it is haunted or not, but it sure is creepy. Walking |
| and gravel of the creeks. That is how the first gold | | | | through a bunch of cave like passageways in the dark |
| was discovered in the Black Hills. Big Thunder Gold | | | | with nothing but a candle to protect you is not for the |
| Mine offers individualized gold panning lessons next to | | | | faint of heart. But it sure is fun. |
| Battle Creek, where gold was originally discovered on | | | | The mine also has a couple gift shops, and a |
| historic Reeds Placer Claim during the 1880s. The Big | | | | restaurant where you can get a quick lunch, or pick up |
| Thunder gold mine panning experience is guaranteed | | | | a box lunch for a picnic nearby. |