- Once the largest gold mine in America, Homestake Gold Mine has a rich history just waiting to be discovered.
- Tours explore the mine and the historic town of Lead, South Dakota.
- Tour tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for students, veterans, and seniors, and free for children under the age of five.
Overview
Now the site of SURF and its scientific discovery and exploration, the former Homestake Gold Mine was once the largest and deepest gold mine in America. When it closed in 2001 after over 125 years of operation, the mine’s visitor center remained open with guided tours of Lead and the surface of the Homestead mining operation. Today, the exhibits and events provide a deeper look at the mining process, a history of Lead, and the future of scientific discovery at Sanford Underground Research Facility. The facility boasts a spectacular view of the massive Open Cut and a 3-D model of the underground drifts still in existence today.
Location
The Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center is located at the east end of Main Street in Lead, South Dakota, about an hour west of Rapid City in the northern Black Hills.
Hours
The Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center is open year ‘round with tours and special events in the summer, and seasonal hours from October through April. The hoistroom tours last approximately one hour and can be booked online in advance at https://sanfordlab.org/slhvc/plan.
Cost
Pricing for the hoistroom tours is $15 for adults, $12 for students, veterans, and seniors, and free for children under the age of five.
More Information
For more information on the Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center, call 605-584-3110 or visit sanfordlab.org/slhvc. For special events, including Neutrino Day, SURF’s annual free summer science festival, follow the Sanford Lab Visitor Center on Facebook or Instagram.
