Sturgis Rally Trademark Court Case Says The Annual Motorcycle Rally belongs to the People.
STURGIS - IT STARTED HERE BACK IN 1936 WITH THE JACKPINE GYPSIES
Sturgis, South Dakota
Rapid City
Rapid City, South Dakota
Gateway to the Black Hills
Founded in 1876 by a group of disheartened prospectors that had come to the Black Hills in search of gold. John Brennan and Samuel Scott, along with a small party of men, laid out the site of the present-day Rapid City. They designated six blocks in the center of the site to be the business district and appointed committees to convince prospective merchants and their families to locate in the new settlement. Throughout the years, Rapid City has grown to be South Dakota’s second-largest city.
The economic base in Rapid City remains fundamentally the same as it was in the 1800s. Since its beginning, Rapid City has been a center for commerce, culture, transportation and education. Rapid City enjoys a diverse economy that includes agriculture, forestry, government, tourism, healthcare, manufacturing and an extremely strong service sector.
Spearfish
Spearfish, South Dakota
Surrounded by unmatched natural beauty, Spearfish offers something for everyone, old and young, the thrill seekers and those longing for a much-needed reprieve.
The City of Spearfish was established in 1876. Gold fever brought people to Spearfish and the City began to grow rapidly. By 1890 the population of Spearfish had grown to 671. The City is named after the creek that runs through it. The Native Americans that used to spear fish in the clear waters gave the creek its name.
Deadwood
Deadwood, South Dakota
Named by early settlers after the dead trees found in its gulch.
Deadwood is a city in South Dakota known for its gold rush history. Mount Moriah Cemetery has the graves of Wild West figures like Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. Exhibits at the Adams Museum include a huge gold nugget and a plesiosaur fossil. The 1892 Historic Adams House is a Victorian mansion with original features. South of town, the George S. Mickelson Trail leads through the Black Hills National Forest.
The discovery of gold in the southern Black Hills in 1874 set off one of the great gold rushes in America. In 1876, miners moved into the northern Black Hills. That’s where they came across a gulch full of dead trees and a creek full of gold and Deadwood was born.
Custer
Custer, South Dakota
Custer is located near many of the Black Hills best attractions. Situated on the edge of Custer State Park, one of the largest state parks in America. This uncrowded mountain town is a natural playground for all adventure seekers. Plus, you’re just minutes from Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, and Jewel Cave National Monument.
Though there were French fur trappers and traders in the Custer area by 1796, there was no town of Custer until August 10, 1875.
When it came to naming the town, veterans of the Civil War who had served in the Union Army suggested the name of Custer to honor the general who had made a reputation for himself. Veterans of the Confederate Army suggested the town to be named Stonewall in honor of Stonewall Jackson. A vote was taken to decide the matter – although the number was close to half and half – the name of Custer won.
Hill City
Hill City
Hill City is the oldest existing city in Pennington County, South Dakota. Known as the “Heart of the Hills”, a distinction derived from its proximity to both the geographical center of the Black Hills, and the local tourist destinations. The city has its roots in the Black Hills mining rush of the late 19th century.
The Hill City community has continued to evolve as an archeological, paleontological, and geological hub for Black Hills exploration and discovery. The most complete Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton in paleontological history was discovered in the Hill City area and named “Sue” after the paleontologist who unearthed her.
Keystone & Mt Rushmore
Keystone SD & Mt Rushmore
Named after a local gold mine.
Tucked deep away in the breathtaking Black Hills, Keystone, South Dakota is the perfect destination for travelers looking for fun and adventure. Boasting a plethora of outdoor adventures, opportunities to learn about our country’s rich history, and family-friendly attractions, the Keystone area offers excitement around every corner for those of all ages.
It had its origins in 1883 as a mining town, and has since transformed itself into a resort town, serving the needs of the millions of visitors to the Mount Rushmore National Memorial, which is located just beyond city limits.
DEVILS TOWER & HULETT, WYOMING
Hulett, Wyoming & Devils Tower
Named after a family who settled in the area in 1881. Mr. & Mrs. Louis Hulett.
The Town of Hulett is nestled in a valley surrounded by beautiful red rimrock with the Belle Fourche River flowing through it. Hulett with a population of 406 has all the amenities of a larger town including a medical clinic, school, bank, post office, public library, grocery store, several cafes, motels, newspaper, airport, museums and an 18 hole private golf course.
Hulett is known for its friendliness and willingness to help not only neighbors but complete strangers if needed. Although a quiet town most of the year, it comes to life beginning in the spring with the Old West Invitational Turkey Shoot followed by tourists headed to Devils Tower, motorcyclists in August and hunters in the fall.
Belle Fourche
Belle Fourche, South Dakota
(French: Beautiful Fork) was settled at the forks of Haycreek, Redwater, and Belle Fourche River
Belle Fourche is an authentically western town founded in the late 1800s. It has a rich history full of cowboys, pioneers and cattle and sheep dynasties. It is also the Center of the Nation and the home of one of the oldest rodeo in South Dakota: the Black Hills Roundup.
Belle Fourche is one of the most important livestock shipping rail-heads in the West. The wool shipping warehouses are the largest in the US even today. The city is the trading center for a three-state agricultural area encompassing 21,000 square miles in NW South Dakota, NE Wyoming, and SE Montana known as the Tri-State Area. A hub for livestock auctions and wool shipping, Belle Fourche also is the center of a bentonite mining industry. The downtown area’s architecture retains the aura of the early 1900s
Wyatt's Lemonade Stand
Wyatt’s Lemonade Stand, Tilford, South Dakota
In 2019 Wyatt Dennis sat on the porch of a house his parents were thinking about purchasing. It happened to be in the middle of Sturgis Rally and an idea was born. Wyatt told his parents that if they purchased the house, he wanted to do a lemonade stand the following year during Rally.
When 2020 rolled around Wyatt was ready. The lemonade stand idea was put into action. Wyatt wanted to purchase a Lego set. Wyatt’s parents told him that he would be serving free lemonade to anyone who wanted some and at the end of Rally in turn for his hard work they would take him so he could buy the Lego set.
The rest is history…
Sundance
Sundance, Wyoming
Sundance Wyoming is nestled in the valley of the Bearlodge Mountains in Northeastern Wyoming on the western edge of the Black Hills. History and folklore abounds in the streets that were made for freight wagons and teams of horses, the Sundance Kid did his only jail time here and you can relive the history in our Free museum, located in the courthouse basement.
Sundance was established in 1875 as a trading post and prospered in the wide open frontier of its time. Not much has changed in the 100 plus years – the skies are still huge and Sundance Mountain is breathtaking with its Native American Heritage and its monumental vista towering over this small town, population 1161.
Hot Springs
Hot Springs, South Dakota
(From South Dakota Historical Collections, Compiled by the South Dakota State Historical Society and the Board of Cultural Preservation. Volume 41, 1982)
The southern portion of the Black Hills contains a reservoir of geothermal energy in which permeable rock containing water lies above a heat source. The heated water rises to a cap of impermeable rock, where fissures allow some of the warm water to flow to the surface as thermal springs. Early inhabitants of the plains region surrounding the Black Hills utilized these hot-water springs to ease bodily pains and treat illnesses. Local legend says the Cheyenne Indians became possessors of the springs, but a battle for custody of the waters took place on a peak overlooking the waters, now named Battle Mountain, adjacent to the city of Hot Springs.
In 1875, scientists Walter P, Jenney and Henry Newton studied this region, and this expedition was the first to produce definite information about the thermal waters in the southern foothills, now in the city of Hot Springs. Lt. Col. Dodge, who accompanied the 1875 expedition, discussed this southern steam in his 1876 publication. ( https://hs-sd.org/history)
BLACK HILLS OF SOUTH DAKOTA
Complete Rally Events Schedule
BlackHillsMotorcycleRally.com helping to support all the small towns and communities who make up a big part of this annual gathering.
Rides Maps
BlackHillsMotorcycleRally.com helping to support all the small towns and communities who make up a big part of this annual gathering.
Lodging
BlackHillsMotorcycleRally.com helping to support all the small towns and communities who make up a big part of this annual gathering.
Black Hills Rally Tshirts & Gear
BlackHillsMotorcycleRally.com helping to support all the small towns and communities who make up a big part of this annual gathering.