This museum may be small, but it is done wonderfully with lots of artifacts from the early western, old pioneer, and rodeo days and is definelty lacking nothing. Great stop over while seeing the Center of The Nation Monument. The displays here are nicley done and seem to be in excellent condition. The Johnny Spaulding Cabin that was built in 1876 was a nice place to see and walk back in time if only for a moment or two. The museum staff were very helpful and knowledgable. A great little place to stop and enjoy. $3.00 fee and under 16 free... just can't beat that!
We came to Belle Fourche for the Center of the Nation Monument, but ended up staying much longer than we expected. Next door to the monument, the Tri-State Museum is surprisingly well done and definitely worth exploring. Be sure to check out historic Spaulding Cabin, just outside the museum. On the day we visited, there was an enthusiastic guide who told wonderful stories about the log cabin's builder/owner & his love story. The house & museum offer an incredible peek into frontier life.
We stopped in order to visit the Center of the Nation. The museum was a wonderful little surprise 'extra' in the Visitors Center that was well worth the visit. It was filled with such a variety of artifacts & memorabilia that there must be something in there to entertain everyone. It is very well laid out, with much thought to detail and we wish that we had allowed more time to wander around. I especially enjoyed reading the story about & seeing Three Toes, the wily grey wolf that left a trail of slaughtered livestock, but evaded capture for so long. The staff in the museum & Visitors Center were very friendly & helpful. If you're in the Belle Fourche area, it's well worth your time to have a look at the museum.
Interesting mix of history of the town and region from various points of view, including economic, military, famous visitors, major events, etc. Knowledgable and friendly staff.
It was a surprise, we don't know anything about this Museum and it was a discovery. It is well organised, with a lot of interesting things. I really recommed the Tri-State Museum.
Stop by this sweet little museum, free parking, free admission, there is an adorable cabin to tour on the side, and out back take your picture at the Center of the Nation! Inside the museum there is much to see and all so interesting for history buffs. This is a well run, managed museum. We really enjoyed this place! Thanks.
This is a nice, small museum about the local history of Southwestern South Dakota, Northeastern Wyoming, and Southeastern Montana. Subjects such as ranching, military, fossils, and mining. Lots of nice antiques here.
If you stop by the Center of the Nation Monument, take time to visit this museum. They have travel information for the state and surrounding areas, including WY and MT. There is a small gift shop and a large museum with a lot of local history. We walked through the museum and I wish we had had more time to read more of the history. They have a parking lot and very clean restrooms. There is no fee for this, just a donation if you wish to contribute. The ladies working here were really helpful and nice.
Very comprehensive displays of not only Black Hills history but also of local history. Puts in the perspective the settling of the Black Hills and also history of the pioneers who settled the land.
The displays were interesting in informative, with items from before the actual founding of the town, as well as exhibits honoring our military forces. The wool exhibit is a recent addition, and it was pretty cool to see the tools and raw products presented. Other exhibits include medicine, music, cattle raising, fossils, and more. While the museum is free, it's well worth the suggested $5 donation (for adults).