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