Custer State Park

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Custer State Park is a state park and wildlife reserve in the Black Hills of southwestern South Dakota, USA. The park is South Dakota's largest and first state park, named after Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer. The area originally started out as sixteen sections, but was later changed into one block of land because of the challenges of the terrain.^[1] The park began to grow rapidly in the 1920s and gained new land. During the 1930 the Civilian Conservation Corps built miles of roads, laid out parks and campgrounds, and build three dams that set up a future of water recreation at the park. In 1964 an additional 22,900 acres (93 km²) were added to the park.^[1] The park covers an area of over 71,000 acres (287 km²) of hilly terrain and is home to many wild animals.^[2] It is home to a famous herd of 1500 free roaming bison.^[2] Elk, mule deer, white tailed deer, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, mountain lions, and feral burros also inhabit the park. The park is famous for its scenery, its scenic drives (Needles Highway and the wildlife loop), with views of the bison herd and prairie dog towns. This park is easily accessible by road from Rapid City. Other nearby attractions are Wind Cave National Park, Mount Rushmore, Jewel Cave National Monument, Crazy Horse Memorial, and Badlands National Park.

Contents 1 Museums 2 See also 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Museums

The Peter Norbeck Center is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is located on U.S. Route 16A in Custer. Exhibits focus on the park's natural history and cultural heritage, and include wildlife dioramas, a CCC bunkhouse and a gold prospecting display. The center is named for South Dakota Governor and Senator Peter Norbeck. Many of the park's naturalist programs begin at the center.

Badger Hole, also known as Badger Clark Historical Site, was the home of Charles Badger Clark (1883-1957), who was named South Dakota's first Poet Laureate in 1937^[3] and was noted for his cowboy poetry. The house is maintained as it was when Clark lived there. Visitors can tour the home and hike the adjacent Badger Clark Historic Trail.

[edit] See also

• Begging Burros
• Black Hills
• List of South Dakota state parks

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Custer State Park

• Park Website
• Park Brochure
• Custer State Park resorts
• Video of the 2006 Buffalo Roundup, Custer State Park
• Wildlife loop
• Camping
• Weather, Maps, Photos, & Reviews - Unearthed Outdoors
• Badger Clark Memorial Society

v • d • e Camping Facilities in the state of South Dakota Byron Bible Camp (Huron) | Camp Invention (Brookings/Rapid City) | Camp Rapid (Rapid City) | Cedar Canyon Wesleyan Camp (Rapid City) | Custer State Park | Palisades State Park (Garretson) | Sica Hollow State Park | Swan Lake Christian Camp (Viborg)

v • d • e Protected Areas of South Dakota Federal National Parks: Badlands • Wind Cave National Monuments: Jewel Cave National Forests: Black Hills • Custer National Historic Trails: Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail National Memorials: Mount Rushmore National Memorial National Historic Sites: Minuteman Missile National Historic Site National Wildlife Refuges: Huron WMD • Karl E. Mundt • Lacreek • Lake Andes • Madison WMD • Sand Lake • Sand Lake WMD • Waubay • Waubay WMD National Grasslands: Buffalo Gap • Dakota Prairie • Fort Pierre • Grand River U.S. Wilderness Areas: Badlands • Black Elk State State Parks: Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve • Bear Butte • Custer • Fisher Grove • Fort Sisseton • Hartford Beach • Lake Herman • Lone Pine • Newton Hills • Oakwood Lakes • Palisades • Roy Lake • Sica Hollow • Union Grove State Recreation Areas: Angostura • Beaver Creek • Big Sioux • Big Stone Island • Burke Lake • Buryanek • Chief White Crane • Cow Creek • Farm Island • George S. Mickelson Trail • Indian Creek • LaFramboise Island • Lake Alvin • Lake Cochrane • Lake Hiddenwood • Lake Louise • Lake Poinsett • Lake Thompson • Lake Vermillion • Lewis and Clark • Little Moreau • Llewellyn Johns • Mina Lake • North Point • North Wheeler • Oahe Downstream • Okobojo Point • Pease Creek • Pelican Lake • Pickerel Lake • Pierson Ranch • Platte Creek • Randall Creek • Richmond Lake • Sandy Shore • Shadehill • Snake Creek • Spirit Mound Historic Prairie • Springfield • Swan Creek • Walker's Point • West Bend • West Pollack • West Whitlock

Coordinates: 43°44′45″N 103°25′5″W / 43.74583°N 103.41806°W / 43.74583; -103.41806

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