Custer, SD

Custer is probably the oldest town in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Gold was found here during the 1874 Black Hills Expedition led by Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer, which started the Black Hills Gold Rush. The town started out in 1875 as a settlement of trespassing gold miners, and was named Stonewall (after the confederate general). It was later established as the town of Custer. I visited Custer in Aug of 2018 and then again in Sept of 2019.

Buildings and Businesses along Mt Rushmore Road (US Hwy 16A)

Welcome to Custer

Old Heidepriem Company building

Strolling down Mt Rushmore Rd

Custer County Chronicle, High Mountain Outfitters, Calamity Jane Winery, Gold Pan Saloon

Businesses along Mt Rushmore Rd

View down Mt Rushmore Rd

Corner of 5th and Mt Rushmore Rd

Flora's Black Hills Gold
kind of a trading post?

1912 International Order of Odd Fellows building
Now Carson Drug

Good Karma Fossils and Coffee, Buglin Bull,
Restaurant Sports Bar, and Carson Drug

Could be Trojan horses (2018)

Could be Trojan horses (2019)

AJ's Ore Car Saloon and
Baker's Bakery and Cafe

I did not know that

The Backwoods Gallery

Sitting Bull

Custer County 1881 Courthouse Museum

Vintage everything

Bobkat's Purple Pie Place

Custer Post Office

The 1881 Bank Coffee House

The Bank Coffee House is located in the old First National Bank of Dakota Territory building, built in 1881. I stopped in and had some coffee and a scone. The interior was really neat with stamped ceiling, tellers windows, and a lot of memorabilia. Sad to say, the coffee shop is going away. The bank building is up for auction in Oct 2018.

The Bank Coffee House
in the Old First National Bank building

Old First National Bank Building 1881

Counter set up like tellers windows

Vault used for food prep

Deposit here

Vintage photos

Painted Buffalo

The painted buffalo on street corners around Custer are part of a public art project called "Buffalo Stampede". At the end of the year the buffalo are auctioned off to raise money for various projects. I took photos of 4 of the buffalo in 2018, and got lots more in 2019.

Painted Buffalo

Gold Pan Saloon

Three of us were taking in the sights of Custer when we happened on a bartender just opening up the Gold Pan Saloon. She introduced herself as George, and even though the saloon didn't open for a few minutes, she invited us in for a quick tour. You can see what an interesting place it was from the photos below. My thanks to George, the bartender.

Gold Pan Saloon

Wooden eagle

Welcome to the Gold Pan Saloon

Saloon Interior

George, the bartender

Nice piano!

I like it!

Couple of slots

Definitely a saloon