Before
1881... | - American
Indians of the area have many stories about holes in the Black Hills
that blow
wind.
|
1881 |
- Cave discovery credited
to Jesse Bingham, however his brother Tom received most of the credit following
Jesse's brush with the law for cattle stealing in 1889.
- Charlie
Crary credited with first entry into the cave.
|
1884 |
- First documentation
of a visit into the cave by Custer Chronicle.
|
1887 |
- Hot Springs Star
reports Wind Cave is 3 miles long.
|
1889
| - South
Dakota Mining Co., run by Robert B. Moss, establishes mineral claims on cave area.
- J.D.
McDonald, Elmer, Alvin and Mary move to Hot Springs.
- South
Dakota becomes a state.
|
1890 |
- South Dakota Mining
Co. under Robert Moss files three claims on land around cave.
- J.D.
McDonald hired as manager of Wind Cave by South Dakota Mining Co. J.D. agrees
to file homestead claim on area which he will later deed to the South Dakota Mining
Co.
|
1891 |
- Moss and McDonald
disagree and McDonald assumes the claim.
- Chris
Jensen begins stage route to Wind Cave.
- Stablers
move to Hot Springs in June, manage Parrott Hotel starting July 4, and visit cave
during the summer.
- First
religious services in Methodist Church room.
- Stablers
take homesteads around cave.
|
1892 |
- Areas around cave
surveyed, prior title by possession only.
- Stabler
buys a half or a third interest in Wind Cave.
- Wonderful
Wind Cave Improvement Company established.
- William
Jennings Bryan and Governor Lee visit cave.
- Discovery
of Fairgrounds.
- Petrified
man, found "north of the cave", exhibited in the cave for $0.25. Later
exhibited in Hot Springs and then sold by John Stabler to a man in Kansas.
|
1893 |
- Stabler or Wind Cave
Hotel built and opened in 1895.
- R.B.
Moss files against the Wonderful Wind Cave Improvement Company.
- Professor
Paul Alexander Johnstone finds a lady's hat pin hidden in the cave.
- Peter
Folsom files mining liens on South Dakota Mining Co. and Moss for failure to pay
for assays, liens include Wind Cave.
- SD
Mining Co. vs McDonald suit is dropped.
- Alvin
McDonald dies on December 15th at the age of 20.
|
1894 |
- J.D. files on homestead.
J.D. and Elmer McDonald and George and John Stabler file on Wind Cave property.
- Peter
Folsom purchases claims of SD Mining Co.
- G.A.
Moss does not appear in court to contest Wind Cave ownership.
- Wind
Cave case-McDonald/Stabler vs SD Mining Co. postponed.
- Statue
of Alvah McDonald completed by sculptor Riordan from Evans pink sandstone.
|
1895 |
- Court confirms Folsom
purchase of title for Wind Cave and other Moss claims.
- J.D.'s
mother patents homestead west of Elmer McDonald's.
- J.D.
probably secured receiver's receipt for his homestead.
|
1896 |
- SD Mining Co. vs J.D.
McDonald case is decided in favor of McDonald.
- John
La Favre receiver of US Land Office at Rapid City states Wind Cave property ownership
is uncertain. McDonald was at Wind Cave before the land was surveyed and held
the land by squatter's rights making final proof in June 1895 and claiming it
as an agricultural homestead. SD Mining Co. had a mineral claim and argued that
McDonald had claimed the land as agricultural while assessing it for another party
for a mineral claim.
- Aug.
16 Luella Agnes Owen, geologist, visits cave. Her theory on cave formation involves
geyser activity.
|
1897 |
- Conflict continues
between McDonald and Stabler. McDonald has Stabler arrested; Stabler gains possession
of the cave.
- Stablers
join with Folsom - file new mining certificates.
- Court
sets aside McDonald's receiver's receipt.
- J.D.
and Elmer file against Stablers in March and April.
- Folsom
counterfiles McDonald.
- Sheriff
Wallace takes possession of cave by court order and turns it over to Folsom.
|
1898 |
- Black Hills Wind Cave
Co. of Custer County formed by Folsom, Stablers and Peter Paulsen.
- Elmer
McDonald works as guide for above company.
- SD
School of Mines publishes 19 page report on Wind Cave.
|
1899 |
- General Land Office
agent C.W. Greene reports no evidence of legitimate mining development at Wind
Cave. McDonald wins in the SD Mining Co. vs McDonald case. McDonald's homestead
entry canceled because of lack of good faith in occupying the homestead.
|
1900 |
- J.D. and son, Roy
hid in cave for 24 hours after attempting to hold cabin at Wind Cave.
- Secretary
of Interior, Hitchcock confirms land office decision. He states neither party
is entitled to the land as the land was not mined and McDonald did not comply
with the terms of the Homestead Act.
|
1901 |
- Permanent withdrawal
by US 1000 acres of land around cave entrance from mineral or agricultural entry.
- Col.
C.W. Green, Dept. of the Interior, is placed in charge of the cave. C.L. Jensen
is made the general supervisor and George Stabler and Elmer McDonald work as guides.
There is no fee to enter the cave.
- US
government decides to survey Wind Cave.
- John
Stabler dies - little family opposition to park idea.
- Claims
of Elmer and J.D. McDonald canceled because of inadequate evidence.
|
1902 |
- First government survey
of cave completed in April.
- Bill
to establish Wind Cave National Park passes the US Senate and House of Representatives.
- Captain
Seth Bullock becomes the new supervisor of Wind Cave and appoints George Boland
as the area ranger.
- George
Stabler, Elmer McDonald and Peter Paulsen work as guides and are allowed to charge
visitors $ 0.50.
|
1903
| - Wind
Cave enabling legislation passes and signed by President Theodore Roosevelt on
January 9, creating Wind Cave National Park. Park includes 10,522.17 acres. Wind
Cave becomes the first cave to become a national park in the world.
- William
A. Rankin - Superintendent (Aug. 1)
- Cave
tour fee $0.50.
|
1904 |
- Irene
B. Rankin granted first food concession. Noon meals are $0.50 and she continues
until 1908.
|
1906 |
- First Superintendent's
stone cottage built.
|
1907 |
- Earthquake causes
rockfall in cave on Oct. 25th.
|
1908 |
- Jewell Cave N.M. established.
|
1909 |
- Joseph E. Pilcher
- Superintendent (May 1).
|
1910 |
- Rufus J. Pilcher -
Superintendent (March 26).
- General
Pershing visits cave with pocket aneroid barometer, guides refuse to believe cave
room depths.
- Forest
fire over 2,500 acres in park, started outside south boundary and burned close
to the cave (March 23-25).
|
1911 |
- A.C. Boland - Superintendent
(May 1).
- J.
Alden Loring's report on land in SD suitable for a game preserve sent to Franklin
W. Hooper, American Bison Society.
- Two
new flagpoles were installed. One at the Superintendent's residence and one at
the South boundary of the park.
|
1912 |
- William M. Boland
- Acting Superintendent (June 11).
- Wind
Cave National Game Preserve established within current park boundary under administration
of the US Biological Survey, Dept. of Agriculture.
- A
barn for the use of the Superintendent was completed during the year.
|
1913 |
- Fred Merle - Custodian
(Nov. 15).
- Frederick
N. Dille - Acting Superintendent (Dec. 2).
- National
Bison Society sends 14 bison from New York Zoological Gardens.
- A
registration office was built - frame building 20' X 40' - the Old Hotel.
- The
People's Telephone & Telegraph Co. built a new telephone line from the south boundary
to the Superintendent's house.
|
1914
| - Thomas
W. Brazell - Superintendent (Aug. 1).
- Ester
Cleveland Brazell - ranger guide at Wind Cave, possibly making her the first woman
to hold the title of ranger in the National Park Service.
- 21
elk arrive from Jackson Hole, WY.
- 13
pronghorn arrive from Brooks, Alberta sent by the Boone and Crockett Club of New
York.
- A small
rectangular pavilion was constructed.
|
1915 |
- Built an ice house
- 12' X 12' X 10' high.
- An
underground reservoir of masonry one-foot thick with capacity of 450 barrels was
built and connected to new sanitary drinking fountain near public building. The
new reservoir is located 70' above and 300 feet distant from the park residence.
- Water
source is ½ mile west of and 150' higher than the park residence. Spring put out
about 40 barrels per day. Now with both new & old reservoirs park has capacity
to store 800 barrels of water.
|
1916 |
- T.E. Brazell - Superintendent
(March 16).
- 25
elk arrive from Yellowstone NP.
- 9
pronghorn arrive from Alberta, Canada.
- 6
bison arrive from Yellowstone NP.
- Rockfall
occurs at entrance on March 26.
- Organic
Act establishes the National Park Service in the Department of the Interior on
August 25.
- Water
flow increased to about 50 barrels average for 15 months and is now up to 76 barrels
per day.
- Beginning
June 1st cave fees were reduced to .25 per customer (.50 was old charge)
|
1917 |
- "It is the custom
for authorized guides to conduct visitors through the cave, and as a trip requires
about three hours, but two trips each day are made. The established time of entrance
is at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. As a great many auto tourists do not know of the established
time for cave trips, they cannot mange to get here at the right time and often
do not wait for the trip and cannot be accommodated unless extra guides are available.
The widest publicity should be given as to time of entrance to the cave which
would result in eliminating a great deal of disappointment and a very substantial
increase in the number of visitors to the interior if the cave."
|
1918 |
- One of four large
bridges (#4) was replaced by permanent earth fill and masonry arched culvert.
- Inside closets
(anti-freeze) have been installed in the administrative buildings and modern septic
vaults and disposal drains have been provided for the reception of sewer from
both residence and administrative buildings.
- Supply
pipe from spring to reservoir replaced at depth of 4'.
- A
roomy corral was built.
- A
footbridge was built across gulch from the administrative building to Alvin McDonald's
statue was built.
- Taulbet
and Coventry constructed in Administration building (April).
- 10-car
auto shelter completed (July).
- "By
order of the State authorities the cave was closed to the public on account of
quarantine against Spanish influenza" (October 20).
|
1919 |
- Road through the park
is 6 miles long and is part of the Denver-Deadwood highway.
- Animals
in game preserve - 54 bison, 100 elk, 21 antelope.
- "A
big sign was constructed on the west slope of the big steep hill just east of
the entrance to the cave which is a great benefit to the traveling public." Letters
are 20' high (June).
|
1920 |
- Supt. Brazell reports
1500' depths and over 100 cave miles.
- Two
mild tremors are felt in cave on July 14 and Aug. 30, but no resultant damage
found.
- Custer
State Park Game Preserve established north of Wind Cave with 5,800 acres.
- Wedding
in the Garden of Eden in May.
- Visitors
to the park were Baron Eugen Fersen and his mother, Baroness Medem, of Moscow,
Russia (August 16).
- Lots
of snow - drifts up to 25' deep were not uncommon.
- Park
officials made their first arrest. Two men who stole a new car in Rapid City and
were passing bad checks were turned over to the Sheriff (September 29).
|
1921 |
- "The striking feature
of this season's travel was the remarkable increase of motoring tourists and the
disastrous decrement of train travel. This year's record shows an increase in
motoring and camping tourists of over 34% and a decrease in train travel of over
40%."
|
1922 |
- Fossil
Cycad NM established under Wind Cave management.
- Present
concessionaire is Roy W. Juckett. The concession is a permit to haul for hire,
passengers from Hot Springs to Wind Cave and return.
|
1923 |
- E.A. Fuson - refreshment
concessionaire.
- Over
92% of cave visitors came to the park in private automobiles.
- Revenues
from all sources totaled $4,109.25.
|
1924 |
- Number of visitors
to this park has more than doubled in the past five years.
- 130
buffalo, 7 antelope, 2 deer & approximately 300 elk.
- "An
adequate electric lighting system for the cave should be installed at the earliest
practicable date. This is very important. A good draft team, harness and wagon
should also be purchased."
|
1925 |
- 126 buffalo, 250 elk,
13 antelope.
- New
house over entrance to the cave was built.
|
1926 |
- Fee raised to .50
on September 1.
- Nearly
all 51+ miles of road was reconstructed this year.
- Had
to start hauling water to meet demand.
|
1927 |
- 148 buffalo, 143 elk,
23 antelope.
|
1928
| - Anton
J. Snyder - Superintendent (June 10) reports cave discovered in 1881 by John Wells,
formed by hot water, and 108 miles in length.
- Water
shortage/limited supply 800 gal/day 500 visitors/day.
- Permanent
employees - Superintendent & 1 ranger - 12 seasonal rangers hired.
- Stephen
T. Mather, Director of the NPS, paid visit to Wind Cave National Park in July
27.
|
1929 |
- Norbeck Dam constructed,
forming Lake Ta-Tan-Ka. Contract was awarded to Gould and Herrin of Denver.
- Mt.
Rushmore NM authorized under Wind Cave management.
- 175
buffalo, 95 elk, 25 antelope.
- First
time that hay had to be fed to game animals.
- Park
road was reconstructed and new gravel added.
- The
newly constructed road between the north boundary and Pringle was opened for travel
in May. It is now 9 miles long not 13 miles.
- Contract
has been let to the Northwest Engineering Company of Kadoka, SD for the construction
of the concrete arch bridge to span Beaver Creek Canyon.
|
1930 |
- Concessionaire - C.C.
Gideon.
- Funds
appropriated for resurfacing roads, construction of water and sewer systems, electric
lights for cave and a ranger dormitory.
- 100
buffalo, 80 elk, 30 antelope.
|
1931 |
- Edward D. Freeland
- Superintendent (March 16).
- Park
boundary changed (includes Beaver Creek Canyon area), park is 11,818,94 acres.
- First
electric lighting system installed.
- Finished
grading and surfacing the north-south highway.
- Constructed
a complete water and sewer system. A 2" water main was laid at a depth of 4' from
the main. 4" line to the powerhouse and new dormitory site.
- Kepp
Construction Company received the contract to construct the ranger's dormitory/mess
house and completed the building on Sept. 5th.
- Agreement
signed with McAdams to sell government 2 springs and 101 acres.
- Added
a permanent clerk to park staff on May 31, 1931.
- Fire
hydrants were installed with the new water system. "This new water and sewer
system should take care of all sewer and water problems for years to come."
- Power
plant constructed of natural stone and stucco
- Set
aside an area to serve as a campground.
|
1932 |
- Spring water system
was constructed ($50,000) - (Cost was $43,300-turned back $ 6,700). Surplus water
directed to the artificial lake known as the buffalo reservoir.
- Construction
included an employee's residence (Q-07) and a two-car garage attached to the Superintendent
residence.
- 200
buffalo, 50 elk, 50 antelope.
- Lawns
were planted in May at the ranger dormitory, the new employee residence and the
old employee's residences.
- 2
¾ miles of fence was constructed around the Upper Spring Area.
- The
north-south highway was oiled.
- Director
Albright visited the Park in September 1932.
|
1933 |
- Jewel Cave NM transferred
from USDA to USDI.
- Wind
Cave Lake was nearly filled by spring rain. In June a Ranger was detailed there
on hot days as a lifeguard.
- Road
surface was given a palliative oil treatment (October 31).
- Started
work on "Custer-Newcastle Approach Road" 8.6 miles.
- Old
car shelter, oil and icehouse were moved to a location less conspicuous.
- Work
on the Civil Work Project began on December 11th with 44 men.
|
1934 |
- Civilian Conservation
Corps (CCC) camp established at WICA (July 16).
- Work
began on 204 foot elevator shaft (August 20).
- Jewel
Cave National Monument was placed under jurisdiction of this office.
- Under
Public Works project, $222,100 was allocated for: Two employee quarters (Q-03,
Q-06) and machine shop shed, elevator installation with power house, Administrative
Building, highway surfacing and widening and construction of cave trails.
- 5000
brook trout were planted in Beaver and Cold Spring Creeks.
- Director
Cammerer visited the Park on July 13.
|
1935 |
- Wind Cave NP gains
authority over Game Preserve lands on June 15 ending dual authority on the land.
- Otis
elevator installed, it travels 700 feet/minute and carries 12 people. Elevator
installation with power house and 120 HP diesel engine - Cost $ 71,996.63 + $2,500.00.
The concrete lining of the elevator shaft was completed in April. Installation
of the elevator by Otis Elevator Company was completed in October.
- Concrete
stairs and iron railings installed in cave to replace wooden ones.
- VIP
Center completed as power house for elevator.
- Administration
Building construction begins. Contractor was Henry Carlson Company, cost $35,987.00.
- Constructed
new Superintendent's Residence (Q-03).
- Constructed
new employee's residence (Q-06).
- Constructed
9 car machine shop shed.
- Total
cost of all three was $19,475.89, under contract.
- ECW
Camp D-NP-1 was established near park headquarters on July 16.
- Severe
drought in 1933 & 1934 continued in 1935.
- The
new 25,000-gallon reservoir was completed.
- The
foundation of the old residence (Q-05) was completed and the building was moved
in February.
- Installing
sprinkler systems in the residence area kept 15 men busy in February.
- CCC
accomplishments - remodeled an old shingled residence, planted 5,000 trees and
shrubs in headquarters area, sloping more than 35,000 sq. yds. of road shoulders,
obliteration of several old roads and borrow pits and improvement of 1-1/2 miles
of cave trails by installing concrete stairs with iron railings.
- Monthly
Narrative Report of December: First elevator breakdown occurred on December 15,
1935. Problem was "a defective resistance coil and the precipitation of moisture
on switches and other controls from the cooling of the warm moist air rising through
the shaft from the Cave." It now appears that this trouble will recur frequently
during cold weather unless the elevator door openings at both landings in the
cave are made airtight by the construction of special entryways resembling storm
doors. It is contemplated that this work will be done in January.
|
1936 |
- Cave entrance reconstructed
- trap door replaced with "natural looking" entrance.
- Rewiring
of long route begun.
- Rock
fall at entrance on March 1st.
- Cave
tour fee $0.75.
- CCC
Camp won the CCC baseball championship for South Dakota.
- In
January, nine street light poles and fixtures were erected at 125' intervals along
the entire length of the parking lot.
- The
headquarters enclosure fence was completed.
- Footbridge
from Administration building to cave entrance was completed.
- CCC
Projects: Fencing of park boundary project was completed; a small basement under
one of the headquarters residences was enlarged to make room for storage and laundry
facilities; the old 75-foot flight of wooden stairs just inside the cave entrance
was completely replaced with concrete.
- The
stone terrace in front of the ranger clubhouse was completed in September.
- A
small basement was excavated under the clerk's residence and the Arcals heating
plant moved in.
|
1937
| - New
cable put on long route by CCC.
- Small
campground built north of cave entrance by CCC, now the picnic area.
- CCC
Projects: Dormitory room constructed in Ranger's Clubhouse; the incinerator at
the utility area was completed; basement was excavated in the Ranger's Clubhouse
for relocating the furnace; betterment of cave trails; construction of stone walks
in parking lot; transplanting of trees; information sign and construction of reservoir.
- The
old fireplace in the Ranger's Clubhouse living room was torn out and a new one
constructed.
- The
old Ranger dormitory is being remodeled for use as a residence. The basement retaining
walls were completed in March.
- The
first annual encampment of Lakota took place on July 18-22 with 55 people in attendance.
- Construction
of the new elevator building began in December.
|
1938 |
- Second Annual encampment
of Lakota from Pine Ridge.
- Park
took over maintenance of park roads on July 1.
- CCC
crews completed the box culvert in the utility area (lagoon area) in December.
- The
underground garage (Fire equipment) was completed in November.
- The
elevator building was completed in December by CCC labor. Statistics: Building
time: 10 months; 210 working days; Expenditures: 4,900 man days @$2.00/day= $9,800.00;
Materials =$ 3,786.62; Supervisor = $4,500.00; Total cost of the building = $18,086.62.
|
1939 |
- Harry J Liek - Superintendent
(May 18).
- Model
made of cave room (Model Room) for V.C. exhibit.
- Badlands
NM established under Wind Cave management.
- CCC
projects completed: 100 yards of stone guardrail were installed on either side
of Administration Building.; 102 trees were planted in the vicinity of the headquarters
area; sewage disposal system and sewerline extension with a plant for disposal
were installed.
- Utility
Garage "A" - 2 story, 12 stall garage was under construction but not completed
in FY39.
- Water
supply from Upper McAdam Spring decreased from a recorded maximum of 24,000 gal/day
to 7,000 to 8,000 gal/day between May & August.
- January
25, 1939 - Badlands was made a National Monument
|
1940 |
- Projects completed:
Garages "A" & "C", filtration plant, spring development and 2.5 miles of underground
telephone lines leading through the park.
- CCC
Projects nearing completion: headquarters area landscaping, oil house, service
road and fenced utility area.
- Addition
to Superintendent's house (Sun Room).
- Fire
Tower on Elk Mountain.
- Telephone
to utility area.
- 119
buffalo, 150 elk, 75 antelope.
- Water
supply was a serious problem throughout the summer. The upper McAdams springs
was only pumping 2700 gal/day in August. 5000 gal/day were hauled from Hot Springs.
- CCC
Projects completed before CCC ended; Garages A & C in Utility Area, Slow Sand
Filter, Coal bunker, Utility area, Spring development, Pit Toilets, Campground
Area.
- The installation
of the massive wooden door at the cave entrance was completed on July 13th.
- CCC
Camp was abandoned on October 31, 1939.
|
1941 |
- Rained at the spring
- Upper McAdams spring went up to 37,400 gals/day in June compared to 9,750 gal/day
in June 1940.
- Projects
completed by CCC's side-camp SP-3 (Custer State Park): finished stone guard rail,
Utility area service road, oil house, Utility area fence, Clean-up of tornado
area, repairs to incinerator, tree planting, replacement of 3000' of
electric cable in cave, resurfacing cave trails and enlargement of Superintendent's
residence basement.
|
1942
| - CCC
camp closed.
- Two
murals, painted by wildlife artist Walter A. Weber, were donated.
- Cave
tour fees reduced from $.75 to $.50.
- 163
buffalo, 180 elk, 135 antelope.
- CCC
work from other camps completed: Obliteration of the old CCC Camp, razing of old
warehouse at utility area, rock crushing for road maintenance, telephone line
to utility area from headquarters, buffalo corral improvements.
|
1943 |
- Superintendent from
Wind Cave supervised Wind Cave, Mt. Rushmore, Badlands & Jewel Cave.
- Visitation
dropped by 50.88% from 19,174 in 1942 to 9,757.
- A
5-ton rock was dislodged by frost action and blocked the cave at the foot of the
first flight of stairs.
- Maintenance
problems: electrical generating units had numerous breakdowns, water filling the
sump at the foot of elevator shaft, deterioration of road from heavy truck traffic.
- Sawdust
burners were installed in 5 residences to save from buying fuel oil.
|
1945 |
- A small amount of
water continues to seep through the wall of the elevator shaft (first occurred
in 1943).
- Buffalo
tested for brucellosis results showed that 85% of herd might be reactors.
- Maintenance
on Game Fence started.
|
1946
| - Park
boundary expanded to include most of Custer Recreational Demonstration Area and
Federal Game Sanctuary (28,059.26 acres).
- Concession
opened for the first time since the 1942 travel season.
- A
large 8-ton limestone fragment broke off and blocked the trail near the walk-in
entrance.
- Tentative
plans for making a double cave entrance door are in the making.
- Brucellosis
infection in bison herd is being brought under control by vaccinating all calves.
- Maintenance
of Game Fence is still #1 priority on our maintenance and rehabilitation programs.
- Interior
finish of the Elevator Building has suffered much damage from the moisture carried
up the shaft.
|
1947 |
- Devil's Tower NM established
in 1906, put under Wind Cave management.
- Park
visitation and usage increased 305% over the last pre-war travel years. 85,144
visitors entered the park.
- On
August 9, 1946 Park was increased from 11,718 acres to 28,059 acres.
- Poaching
has become a serious problem.
- Highway
patrol was discontinued due to need of using all rangers for guide duty; consequently,
there was much indiscriminate driving off the road.
- June
20 - 4.25" of rain fell in 4 hrs and 3.25" in the next 30 hours. It caused damage
to water and sewer lines, telephone lines, washed out surfacing and destroyed
electrical wires in first 500' of cave, destroyed 10 flood gates and washed out
section of North-South highway, destroyed many sections of fence. Cost of repair
will be $10,000 -$15,000.
- The
elevator was the cause of considerable concern and failed to operate properly
much of the time. Much work needs to be done in addition to the usual quarterly
inspections. It is believed that a safety test is needed, as such a test has not
been made since the installation of the elevators.
- Floodgates
in fence all need to be replaced.
- Black
Hills Power & Light Co. completed construction of their line to the park in November.
Park has received 24-hr. electrical service since that date. Cost less than running
our old diesel unit 16 hrs/day.
|
1948 |
- Wind Cave Superintendent
supervised Badlands, Devils Tower, Fossil Cycad and Jewel Cave National Monuments
and Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
- Poaching
of park animals continues to be a vexing problem.
- Building
rehabilitation consisted of interior & exterior painting of the Administrative
Building and some of the residential buildings.
- The
bulk of the flood damage incurred on June 20, 1947 was cleaned up and repaired.
- The
North-South highway requires extensive repairs. It is the poorest stretch on U.S.
85A between Edgemont and Custer, SD.
|
1950 |
- William J. Watson
- Acting Superintendent (May 5).
|
1951 |
- Earl M. Semingsen
- Superintendent (July 23).
- 12
pronghorn arrive from Yellowstone NP.
- Heating
and hot water systems were modernized in various residences. Two residences were
re-wired.
- Funds
appropriated and allotted for construction of new boundary fence. 50% of work
completed at the close of the fiscal year.
|
1952 |
- Original fire lookout
station built on Rankin Ridge consisting of cedar pole topped with crows nest.
- Natural
History Association formed.
- Revenues
collected from fees for guide and elevator services were approx. $25,135.20.
- Automatic
traffic counters installed on the highways.
- Construction
of new wildlife boundary fence was completed at the close of the fiscal year.
- Rehabilitation
projects completed included (1) complete repair, redecoration and renovation of
the elevator shaft and building, (2) premix surfacing of foot trail from Administrative
Building to Elevator Building, (3) insulation of 8 residential and administrative
office buildings with Insol-Fiber and new windows for two residences (4) reline
incinerator.
- Surface
seal coating of park highways completed.
- Acquisition
of Highway 87 from old North boundary to the new North boundary was made from
State and County authorities, as well as Routes 65 & 66 in the newly acquired
land area.
|
1953 |
- Golden
Anniversary of Wind Cave NP celebrated with "Show Me Days" and Lakota
ceremony.
- "With
the arrival of the newly approved quarters rental rates for Government-owned buildings,
employees morale hit the lowest ebb in the history of the Park. (AR-FY53) Rates
increased over 100%.
- 100
buffalo and 30 elk were released into the State Park. The buffalo herd now stands
at 412 animals + this years calves. Elk number between 1000 and 1200 + arriving
calves crop.
- Rankin
Ridge Fire lookout station was established and radio-equipped.
- Contracts
completed: rebuilding of new cattleguard; reconstruction of boundary fence and
utility roadwork.
|
1954 |
- Beginning June 16,
the guide and elevator fees were increased from .50 to .75 including tax.
- A
new cave entrance historical sign was constructed and erected at the discovery
"Blow Hole".
- One
trailer house was purchased for seasonal ranger quarters.
- A
new 5000-gallon oil storage tank was purchased for Wind Cave.
- Water
source supply for park use declined to approx. 5000 gal/day and consumption totaled
8000 gal/day.
- Walt
Disney Production announced the completion of the movie entitled "The Vanishing
Prairie" which was largely photographed in the Park.
- The
Superintendent was re-assigned the immediate control and administrative responsibility
for Jewel Cave and Fossil Cycad National Monument's with the closing of the Black
Hills area office at Rapid City on April 24, 1954.
-
"Thousands of park visitors are turned away and/or decline taking advantage of
the cavern tour due to the lack of guide service. Less than 65 for every 1000
that travel through the park by motor vehicle can be accommodated to visit the
cavern."
- A new
roadside Prairie Dog Exhibit was constructed at the Norbeck Prairie Dog Town.
- 208
buffalo were baited into Custer State Park and 20% of this number were slaughtered
for distribution to Indian groups and organizations. Custer State Park crews,
supervised by Park rangers, to reduce the herd to approximately 400 animals killed
approximately 700 elk in the Park.
- Three
black-footed ferrets were released in the Park. (??? by Walt Disney Productions
Inc.)
|
1955 |
- Third rewiring project
started, completed in early 1956.
- Millionth
visitor took cave trip on Aug 10.
- 240,000
gallons of drinking water was hauled to the Park from Hot Springs.
- The
prairie dog town parking area project was nearly completed at the close of the
fiscal year.
|
1956 |
- Steel tower replaces
wooden pole lookout on Rankin Ridge.
- Highway
87 opened, connecting Custer State Park and WICA.
- Photo
floods put in Temple Room in the cave.
- Black
light demonstration put in at Frostwork Ledge in Fairgrounds Room in the cave.
- Cave
Re-wiring Project was completed in March.
- Drilling
of a water well started in December 1955 and was completed in April 1956. 791
feet deep with a maximum yield of 39 gallons/minute.
- Contract
was awarded for highway construction, Route 2, North Entrance Road. This project
will eliminate the last stretch of surface highway linking Custer State Park to
Wind Cave National Park.
- Automatic
dial telephone was installed in the Park.
|
1957 |
- Fossil
Cycad NM turned over to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on September 1.
- The
new North Entrance Road was completed. (Park Route 2; State Highway 87).
- The
new water well in Wind Cave Canyon and the pipeline to tie it to the present water
system were completed in March.
- A
memorial plaque to Alvin McDonald was erected at the grave in July.
- Seven
routed interpretive signs were installed at six parking areas on the new Entrance
Road.
- FM radio
mobile units were installed in six vehicles.
- Black
Hills Power installed new overhead power lines to the residential area, Administrative
building and utility buildings.
- A
conversion and consolidation of the carpenter, plumbing and mechanical shops was
completed.
- New
steps were constructed from the South parking area to the Elevator Trail.
- A
new back porch was constructed on Residence 3.
- A
new heating system was installed in the garage and repair shop.
- **
The new water well and pipeline, the North Entrance Road and the construction
of the new roadside trail signs were MISSION 66 Projects.
|
1958 |
- Cave tours were discontinued
for the first time from November 1, 1957 to March 31, 1958.
- Interpretive
road patrols were started for the first time.
- Harley
Emick - Seasonal Fire Aid.
- A
46' long culvert was installed and replaced washed out bridge on Route 6.
- Eight
roadside signs were pushed over by a car. (Vandalism).
- All
surfaced trails in headquarters area were seal coated.
- Routes
5 & 6 were graded and reshaped.
- The
utility yard was enlarged and fenced.
- Residence
#8 was provided with new drain and a concrete floor.
- MISSION
66 Projects: The Construction Roadside Trail Sign Project exhibits with the stone
bases was finished at the end of June, the Reconstruction Cave Entrance and Trails
Project was finished, the heating of the Elevator Building was completed, Elevator
#1 and #2 Project was contracted with Carter Elevator for $110,868.
|
1959 |
- Second elevator installed.
- NSS
Expedition to Wind Cave
- Park
received one of the large bronze Stephen T. Mather plaques.
- The
cattle guards at all six entrances were painted yellow as a highway safety measure.
- A
new 10-car employee parking area was constructed adjacent to the elevator building.
- 857
steps in the cave were painted yellow along the riser edge as a safety measure.
- The
elevator building was completely renovated on the interior and exterior and all
three levels were painted.
- The
plastered ceiling in the Maintenance Supervisor office, the oil storage house
and portions of the ceiling in the Concession portion of the Administration building
fell and were repaired.
- MISSION
66 Projects: The three roadside entrance and one double exhibit signs were completed;
Game Ranch obliterated; Buffalo Corral obliterated; O'Neal property purchased.
- The
project for the installation of a completely new elevator and the remodeling of
the old was stalled on September 26, 1958 and will be complete in June 1959 for
a total cost of $114,687.
|
1960 |
- Jess H. Lombard -
Superintendent (Jan. 24).
- Concessionaire
- M.C. Gideon.
- Campfire
programs given at campground.
- Rankin
Ridge Nature Trail completed.
- Installed
hydrochlorinator.
|
1961 |
- Rankin Ridge road
and parking area completed.
|
1962 |
- Five spelunking tours
led by Colorado Grotto members.
- Installed
and rehabilitate trans-houses.
|
1963 |
- Elk Mountain Campground
opened, old campground still used.
- Dave
Schnute, Herb and Jan Conn discover the Spillway.
- Passage
eventually leads to over 70 miles of cave.
- Public
address system installed in visitor center.
|
1964 |
- Single rockfall near
Cathedral on March 18.
- Headquarters
Fire burns 14,000 acres (6,000 acres in park).
- Park
lagoons built.
|
1965 |
- First Christian Ministry
in park.
- Apartment
units constructed.
- Wind
Cave designated official fallout shelter.
- Large
pool of water (5x10') found off Club Room.
- Elk
Mountain Campground road and parking areas.
|
1966 |
- Warren D. Hotchkiss
- Superintendent (Feb. 27).
- 210
visitors on single tour - largest group to date
- Cave
length 10.53 miles.
|
1967 |
- US 385 by-pass completed.
- Experimental
spelunking tour given by Dave Schnute.
- First
photographic tours given.
- First
candlelight tours given.
- Cave
entrance flooded in June; visitors on entranceway stairs caught in knee-deep water.
No injuries occurred.
|
1968 |
- Highest cave visitation
to date.
|
1969 |
- Alvin W. Peterson
- Acting Superintendent (June 15).
- Lester
J. McClanahan - Superintendent (July 27).
|
1970 |
- Cave tour fee $1.00.
- Windy
City Grotto members discover Windy City Lake.
|
1971 |
- Windy City Grotto
members discover Half-Mile Hall.
|
1972 |
- First discovery tours
given.
- Windy
City Grotto exploring cave for 3 days/2 nights on a rotating basis. Explorations
between 1970-1972 lead to the discovery of 14 new miles of cave passage.
|
1973 |
- Concessionaire - Carl
Oberlitner and Dick Turbiville.
- Garden
of Eden area improved for use. Wood escape steps replaced with aluminum steps
before visitor season begins.
- Windy
City Grotto discovers 6 miles of cave making a total of 26 surveyed miles. Wind
Cave becomes the 4th longest cave in the U.S.
- Rediscovery
of Columbian Hall.
|
1974 |
- Concessionaire - Carl
Oberlitner.
- First
living history candlelight tours given.
- Assembly
area shelter built in Spring.
|
1975
| - John
Hoogland begins prairie dog research.
|
1978 |
- Wind Cave Relay Race
begins.
- Rehab
Cave Lighting Project.
- Replace
asphalt with concrete curbs.
|
1979 |
- Visitor Center remodeling
and expansion begins by Corner Construction of Rapid City at a cost of over $1
million.
- Elk
Bugling Programs begin.
- Lowell
Butts - Facilities Manager.
- Norman
W. Salisbury - Chief Naturalist.
- Spelunking
tours $2.00.
|
1980
| - Fourth
lighting system installed (12/79 - 4/80).
- Visitor
Center improvements finished June 18 and reopens on June 21st.
- Dedication
of lighting system and visitor center on Sept. 6th with SD Senator George McGovern
as speaker.
- Cave
length on Dec. 31 was 34.3 miles.
- Youth
Adult Conservation Corps program begins - 2 enrollees.
- Elk
round-up (88 elk).
- Martha
Schilling - business manager of Wind Cave NHA.
- Celebrate
Earth Day with Hot Springs Elementary.
|
1981 |
- Cave discovered 100
years ago.
- Cave
tour fee $1.00 for Half-Mile and $1.50 for Mile tour.
- Triangle
Fire - largest in the Black Hills at this time.
- Wind
Cave has 34 miles, Jewel Cave has 66 miles.
- Commemorative
Newspaper celebrates 100 years of discovery at Wind Cave.
- Alvin
McDonald's diary acquired.
- Oglala
Sioux encampment at Wind Cave for protest ownership of the Black Hills.
- Constructed
3,370 SF asphalt surface vehicle turning bay with concrete, stucco and rockwork
retaining wall and wood garbage storage bin at south side of VC/Admin Building.
- Solar
hot water heaters installed.
|
1982 |
- Kay Rohde - Assistant
Chief Naturalist.
- Indian
Oyate Return to the Paha Sapa Ceremony, 5th year.
- Cave
tour fee $2.00 for Half-Mile, $3.00 for Mile and Candlelight and $4.00 for Spelunking
tour.
- Flooding
of cave entrance in the spring.
- Indian
encampment.
- Prairie
Dog reduction program begins.
- Completed
14,000 SF expansion to existing VC/Administration and Concession Building. Upgraded
entire facility - Contract Project $1,101,664.
- Transformer
disposal contract.
- Rehab
sewer system - Cleaned 6,230 LF, TV inspection of 5,945 LF, slip-lined 1,799 LF
of 8" line. Installed two service connections, six manholes and rehabbed five
manholes.
- Replaced
100 picnic tables in the Elk Mountain Campground.
- Flood
through Wind Cave Canyon on May 22. Log jam at floodgate below pumphouse.
|
1983 |
- James A. Randall -
Superintendent (March 6).
- Cave
tour fee $3.00 for Half-Mile tour, and $4.00 for Mile, Candlelight, and Spelunking
tours.
- Steve
D. Bone - Chief Ranger.
- Centennial
Parade, Hot Springs, SD.
- Evening
surface activities resume.
- Bison
brucellosis program restarted.
- Repaired
and rehabilitated buffalo corrals. Installed new catwalks, holding pens, gates
and steps.
|
1984 |
- Campground goes to
self-service.
- YCC
begins with 6 enrollees.
- Cave
management position - part-time seasonal.
- Cave
passes 40 miles in total surveyed length.
- National
Cave Rescue Commission (NCRC) holds training seminar at Wind Cave.
- National
Speleological Society has trips into Wind Cave in conjunction with their national
convention in Sheridan, WY.
- Earthquake
during the fall.
- Blow
Hole connected into Wind Cave.
- First
draft of Cave Management Plan completed.
- Bison
round-up.
|
1985 |
- Ernest W. Ortega,
Superintendent (March 31).
- Elk
transferred to Theodore Roosevelt NP, ND.
- First
federally funded research begins at Wind Cave (hydrology).
- Cave
passes Friars Hole, WV to become 3rd longest cave in the US at 42.5 miles.
- Evening
surface activities dropped.
- Cave
management position - full time seasonal.
- Radio
location work in Wind Cave by Frank Reid of Indiana.
- Spelunking
tour $5.00.
- William
Swift - Chief Naturalist.
- Rewire
quarters, new sewer lines.
|
1986 |
- Cave goes over 45
miles.
- Backcountry
use started.
- Concrete
trails replace asphalt in cave.
- Bison
herd declared brucellosis free, quarantine lifted.
- Cave
length by year's end is 48 miles.
- Elk
round-up.
- Wind
Cave-Jewel Cave Natural History Association formed.
- 4,000,000th
cave visitor
- 8th
Annual Wind Cave Invitational Relay Race.
- 5
new lakes discovered by Jim Pisarowicz and Bob Kobza.
- Environmental
Education pilot program.
|
1987 |
- Largest prescribed
fire in Black Hills 2,460 acres.
- Cave
closed temporarily because of high winds (at entrance speeds greater than 70 mph).
- Custer
State Park joins WC-JCNHA
- Gary
Kiramidjian - Supervisory Park Ranger
- Formalized
Environmental Education program called Connections begins.
- August
15 - Wind Cave passes 50 miles of mapped passages.
- Bison
round-up, 270 bison, first population decrease since quarantine was lifted.
- YCC
8 students from Hot Springs participate.
- Wind
Cave Film Festival.
- Mother's
Day Open House.
- Rediscovery
of "The Lonely Palace".
- Boundary
increase of 240 acres.
- Installed
a new deep well pump, sensor wire and associated piping.
|
1988
| - Karri
Fischer - business manager WC-JCNHA.
- WC-JCNHA
renamed Black Hills Parks and Forests Association.
- Cave
lighting project, incandescent lights replace fluorescent. Cave restoration also
takes place.
- Wind
Cave at 51.3 miles (7th longest in the world), Jewel Cave at 76.33 miles and Mammoth
Cave, KY at 325 miles.
- Prairie
Patchwork evening hikes leaving from campground amphitheater for 1½-2 hours.
- Cave
rescue seminar.
- National
Speleological Society Convention in Hot Springs, SD.
- YCC
program with 12 students.
- Galena
Fire in Custer State Park, 17,000 acres.
- Rehab
sewage lagoons. Installed 8' high chain link fence and two gates around the sewage
lagoons.
- Rehab
campground comfort stations.
- Constructed
seven large redwood signs. (Three entrance signs, two access signs, one in front
of VC and one at entrance to campground).
- Removed
concrete steps on south side of VC/Admin Building, poured concrete handicap ramp.
Re-pointed 50% of the spalled and cracked concrete joints on the historic rock
walls in the Headquarters.
|
1989
| - Nebraska
NF and Bear Butte SP become members of NHA.
- Wind
Cave NP at 86 years, 28292 acres, and 53 miles.
- Custer
middle school Choices EE program begins, small prescribed burn is part of program.
- 233
acres added to southern boundary.
- Walk-in
entrance is shored up with 5' rock bolts, concrete columns and wire mesh.
- Summer
tours include Garden of Eden for $1.00, Natural Entrance for $3.00, Fairgrounds
and Candlelight for $4.00, and the Caving tour for $5.00.
- Norbeck
dam is breached.
- Since
1987 the cave lake levels have dropped 2 feet.
- Harkins
and Powers Aviation Inc. helicopter crashes during Bison round-up-2 hurt, one
park ranger.
- Rachel
Cox, a student with NOLS gets lost during mock search and rescue. Cox spent 37
hours in the cave.
- Jim
Nepstad - Cave Management Specialist (new position).
- Vic
Viera - Resource Management Specialist.
- Bill
Adams - Fire Management Officer (new position in RMVP).
- Kathy
Maurich-Steichen - Assistant Chief Naturalist.
- Trailer
houses #51, 52 and 54 were removed.
- Excavated
and poured concrete footings and foundations for new 4-unit modular apartment
building (Q-44). Installed water maintained sewer service.
- Sewer
Lagoon Liner. Lagoon cells reshaped, installed a new manhole and cross over pipe
and installed liners in each cell. The two main lateral sewer lines from a diversion
manhole to two lagoon cells.
- Rock
bolting/Stabilize Project. Completed work to remove one large rock and the stabilization
of five separate areas on the cave natural entrance trail with rock bolts. pillars,
beams and chain link fencing.
|
1990
| - Elk
round-up.
- Earthquake.
- Edna
Good - Acting Superintendent (April 23).
- Martin
C. Ott - Superintendent (August 12).
- Larry
Hays - Natural Resource Specialist.
- Svedlund
fire (September) burns 15,023 acres immediately to the northwest corner of the
park.
- Cave is
54 miles long.
- Kathy
Lee - Fire Management Clerk.
- Constructed
handicapped accessible additions on campground comfort stations B-103 and B-106.
- New four-unit
modular apartment (Q-44) installed, repaired and opened.
|
1991 |
- Cave Tours: $2.00
Garden of Eden tour, $4.00 Natural Entrance Tour, $5.00 Fairgrounds Tour, and
$6.00 for the Candlelight and Caving Tours.
- Cave
is 57 miles long.
- Southern
Environmental Education Cooperative officially named.
- "Gobbler
Knob" prescribed burn of 2200 acres (April).
- 4200
acre Shirttail Canyon wildfire burns from Forest Service land up to southwestern
border of the park. Park back burns 1000 acres to prevent damage to park facilities.
- Wind
Cave Canyon, Natural Entrance, and Bison Flats area flooded during spring rains.
- Search
for six year old Sydney Burkett, lost when he went for a hike out of loop C in
campground.
- Cave
passed 62 miles in length (Oct.). Southern Comfort zone of the cave found. Stan
Allison, Paul Burger, Jim Nepstad, Mike Wiles were involved in the trip.
- Nancie
Ames - Administrative Officer.
- Ross
Rice - Chief Ranger.
- Water
quality project started.
- Repaired
and stabilized road surfaces on NPS 5 and NPS6. Installed new culverts and base
material.
- Installed
new electrical service in the Elevator Building (B-02).
- Refinished
three redwood Entrance Signs and constructed six new redwood Wayside Exhibit Signs.
- Shirttail
Fire burned 4000+ acres.
- Upgraded
wildlife processing area, constructed a warm-up cabin and repaired gates and fences.
- Started
process to have elevators upgraded.
|
1992 |
- Revolving door installed
at Natural Entrance.
- Ron
Terry - Chief Interpreter.
- Dale
Scheier - Chief of Maintenance.
- Prescribed
burn at Pringle Cutoff.
- First
park newspaper was published.
- Cave
passed 70 miles (Nov.) Became 6th longest cave in world.
- Bison
round-up.
- Jimmy
Taylor - Superintendent.
- Electric
fence installed bordering Game Ranch to the southeast.
- Installed
manual revolving door and enclosure to control climate and air intrusion into
cave environment. Revolving door unit was installed at the walk-in entrance to
the cave.
- Remodeled
and upgraded the interior of the VIP Center to make it accessible and to accommodate
a variety of researcher, VIP and park staff needs. The work included fabricating
a new kitchen, three shower stalls, two restrooms, rear entrance and walkways
at the VIP Center.
- Repaired
fence and replaced 64 posts on Elk Mountain Campground enclosure fence and replaced
205 posts and 140 rods of wire on Spring-Water system enclosure fence.
- Low
volume toilets were installed in the public restrooms to reduce the amount of
sewer entering full sewage lagoons.
|
1993
| - Spelunking
tour price increases to $8.00.
- Heavy
rains necessitate that the sewage lagoons be pumped out. Some sewage was transported
to the Hot Springs treatment facilities. Some water was used for irrigation on
the prairie.
- Construction
widens the road over Gobbler's Knob entering the south side of the park.
- Several
mountain lion sightings in the Beaver Creek area.
- Bison
round-up.
- Cave
at 73 explored miles.
- 100th
anniversary of Alvin's death in December.
- Rehabbed
16 trail signs in the Visitor Center Area.
- Installed
low volume toilets and water saver faucets in the public building.
- Installed
additional handrails at select locations along cave trail system.
- Discharged
1.3 million gallons of wastewater from inactive lagoon using leased irrigation
equipment and hauled 300,000 gallons of actual effluent to Hot Springs Wastewater
Treatment Plant.
- Installed
new UST leak detection systems on the fuel tanks at the Gas House B-16.
- Repaired
three miles of fence on the west boundary that was damaged during the Shirt Tail
Fire and two miles of fence on the East Boundary.
- Installed
low volume toilets in all permanent and seasonal residences.
- Tested
houses and apartments at WICA, JECA, MORU and BADL for lead based paint.
|
1994
| - Jean
Donnell retires after 35 years of federal service.
- Cave
passed 75 miles; Jewel cave passed 100 miles.
- Bison
round-up in September, elk round-up in Jan. & Dec.
- Prescribed
burn - westside of Rankin Ridge.
- Ann
Watson - Superintendent's Secretary.
- Dave
Kenney - Resource Management Specialist.
- Three
term positions replaced season positions in the Interpretation Division.
- Fabricated
and installed new A/V projection booth.
- Repaired
6.6 miles of boundary fence. 165 posts replaced between gates 19 & 20. 65 posts
were replaced on the south boundary fence.
- Removed
the horse pasture fence below Elk Mountain.
- Constructed
five new redwood wayside signs INR01-1,INR01-2, INR02-3
- Replaced
725 LF of asphalt sidewalks in front of the VC/Admin building with concrete.
|
1995 |
- Denny Ziemann - Supervisor
Park Ranger.
- Doug
Buttery - Maintenance General Foreman.
- Steve
Baldwin - Executive Director Black Hills Parks and Forests Association.
- Cave
is at 76.5 explored miles.
- NPS
reorganization.
- Completed
a rehabilitation project in Elk Mountain Campground. Sixteen sites were eliminated
and other improvements were made.
- Replaced
the old wooden bridge structure in the Pearly Gates section of the cave with a
concrete structure.
- Mowed
roadsides on NPS 5 and NPS 6 for the first time in several years.
- Conducted
a major cleanup and organization at the Mixing Circle. 8/95 ¢ Replaced 125 deteriorated
guard rail posts on SD 87.
- Installed
metal siding on old 4-unit & 8-unit apartment buildings.
|
1996 |
- Cave Tours: $4.00
Garden of Eden tour, $6.00 Natural Entrance Tour and Fairgrounds Tour, $7.00 for
the Candlelight, and $15.00 for the Caving Tour.
- Airlocks
installed in cave.
- 5,000,000th
cave visitor.
- Third
sewage lagoon added.
- The
following projects were completed during the winter months at the VC/ Administration
building: Installed diaper changing tables in the upper lobby restrooms, patched
and painted the public use restrooms, upper lobby walls and the conference room.
The opening at the top of the VC elevator shaft was enclosed and repaired a roof
leak near the skylight in the upper lobby.
- Hauled
600,000 gallons of wastewater to treatment plant in Hot Springs to prevent accidental
discharge.
- Cleaned
and painted the interior walls of the Auto Shop (B-18). This was the first time
that the walls were painted since the bays were constructed in 1959
- Constructed
two "air tight" rooms at both elevator landings in the cave.
- Repaired,
stained and painted the exterior walls and trim on the Gas & Oil House, Carpenter
Shop & Fire Cache, Warehouse & Auto Shop and the new Sand Storage Shed. This was
the first time that these buildings were ever painted. 7/96
- Installed
new door operators on the two cave elevators.
|
1997 |
- Cave passes 81 miles.
- Cafeteria
serving area replaced with vending machines.
- Wind
Cave employees reunion is held on June 28-29, over 300 people attend.
- Administration
at Wind Cave (now the Black Hills Administrative Group) has taken a leadership
role in formalizing and implementing administrative resources sharing between
10 parks know as the Nekota Group.
- The
BHP&F; Association opened a new, larger bookstore in the VC and moved their office
and storage into a new space. Consequently, the number and variety of titles offered
for sale greatly expanded. Aid money was used to fund: the park newspaper, two
student interns, interpretive program supplies, staff training, professional memberships
and periodical subscriptions for the library.
- The
museum collection was moved into a new room constructed for museum storage on
the main floor of the VC.
- The
park's interpretive staff planned and developed nine orientation/info panels for
the VC lobby and a comprehensive VC signage system.
- The
park's website was expanded to include virtually all of the info available in
site bulletins.
- An
accessible Romtec SST Vault toilet was installed in the Picnic Area. New walkways
were poured.
- A
total of 134 badly corroded light fixtures along the cave tour route trails were
replaced with new hard plastic units.
- Double
car garages were constructed for residences Q-40 & Q-41. Sidewalks and paved driveways
were also completed.
- An
emergency exit and a window unit were installed in the large basement room.
|
1998 |
- New exhibits in old
dining area and elevator building.
- Light
fixtures removed from Blue Grotto loop and Pearly Gates.
- Wind
Cave: They Story Behind the Scenery authored by Ron Terry.
- Wind
Cave, Jewel Cave and Mt. Rushmore merge administrative duties.
- Rankin
fire tower no longer staffed.
- New
elevators be installed over the winter.
-
New Carpet was installed throughout the Visitor Center.
- New
Sidewalk Project - Phase I-Installed new walks from VC to Elevator Building.
- New
exhibits were installed in the lobby of the Elevator Building.
-
Ruth Pourier - Maintenance Support Assistant.
- Steve
Schrempp - Chief of Maintenance.
- New
Auditorium and Surface Exhibit Rooms.
- Fire
office project began.
- ADA
access to campground phone/fee box and new handicapped campsite at D Loop were
completed.
- Repair
and stain lumber on Pigtail Bridge and surface repair done to High Bridge.
|
1999 |
- Cave passes 86 miles.
- Spelunking
tour price: $18.00.
- New
lake discovered.
- Rod
Horrocks - Cave Management Specialist.
- New
elevators begin operation.
- Small
earthquake (3.0) on August 6 and another on October 9.
- Level
of new lake sumps out passage
to the "Lakes".
- New
Sidewalk Project - Replaced asphalt pavement with Portland cement concrete pavement
between elevator building, VC and natural entrance.
- Enlarged
& remodeled women's restroom, remodeled men's restroom in lower level of Visitor
Center.
- Fence
crew replaced 480 rotten wood posts with steel posts along 1.1 miles of boundary
fence, replaced rotten/damaged wood on floodgate along boundary fence.
- Replaced
two underground fuel storage tanks with above ground tanks.
- Noxious
weed control - mowed 80 acres of Canadian thistle.
- Rehabbed
45 picnic tables by replacing wood with TREX recycled composite lumber.
|
2000 |
- Cave passes 91 miles.
- New,
double-walled sewer line installation begins.
- Cave
tour reservation system initiated with National Park Reservation Service.
- Cave
Tours: $6.00 Garden of Eden tour, $8.00 Natural Entrance Tour and Fairgrounds
Tour, $9.00 for the Candlelight, and $20.00 for the Caving Tour.
- Phyllis
Cremonini - Assistant Chief of Interpretation.
- Spring
blizzard on April 19 knocks out power throughout the southern Black Hills.
The park is without power and no cave tours for 8 days.
- Linda
Stoll - Superintendent.
- Prairie
View Nature Trail completed.
- Jasper
Fire - largest fire in the Black Hills, closes down Jewel Cave.
- A
concrete pad was constructed for a prefabricated building was installed for an
Air Quality Monitoring Station.
- Reconstructed
Centennial Trailhead bulletin board.
- SD
DOT contracted to have the portion of US 385 from the park's west boundary to
Pringle, SD reconstructed.
- 71
new fire grates were purchased and installed in the campground.
- Historic
Quarters Q-04 was converted into office space for use by the Northern Great Plains
Fire Office.
- A
2000-gallon underground fuel oil tank at Q-43 was replaced with a 2000 gallon
above ground propane tank.
- A
project was begun, replacing the exclusion fence around the Visitor Center/Administration/Housing
Area.
|
2001 |
- August 11 - Wind Cave
passes 100 miles of mapped passages.
- Video
- Wind Cave: One Park, Two World - released. Shown regularly in the Visitor
Center.
- Experimental
digital evening programs presented by Jim Pisarowicz in the campground.
- Tom
Farrell - Chief of Interpretation.
- Cave
passes 101 miles.
- Richard
(Rick) Steele - Electrician.
- Joseph
(Joe) Feaster - Maintance Worker.
- Utility
Rehab Project installed 1.5 miles of sewer line to connect the campground comfort
stations to the headquarters wastewater treatment system, eliminating six wastewater
absorption fields
- Rehab
of the wildlife handing facility.
- Rehabilitated
Elk Mountain Radio and Weather Station.
- Three
miles of new fence around the VC.
|
2002 |
- Dan Foster - Chief
of Resources Management.
- Cave
restoration crew begins work along Natural Entrance tour route.
- Chronic
Wasting Disease (CWD) found in elk herd.
- Cave
has 106.66 miles of explored and mapped passages by year's end.
|
2003 |
- January 9th - Wind
Cave Centennial Celebration at the Visitor Center.
- Chronic Wasting Disease
(CWD) found in mule deer herd.
- Rick Mossman - Chief
Ranger.
- Cave has 109.56 miles
of explored and mapped passages by year's end.
- Wind Cave National
Park: The First 100 Years authored by Peggy Sanders
- Digital evening programs
on a regular basis, first presenter Marvin Achtenberg.
- Wind Cave employees
reunion is held on June 13-15, over 500 people attend.
|
2003 |
- New parking lot constructed
at Visitor Center to address water runoff issues.
- New handrails installed
along most of the tour routes in the cave.
- Cave has 113.05 miles
of explored and mapped passages.
- Mange in coyotes in the park.
- Exclosure fence constructed to protect aspen grove across from Rankin Ridge
on Highway 87.
- NPS Director Fran Mainella visits park on July 1.
|