1915 Map of Spearfish

About this map

Spearfish serves as the gateway to this industrial landscape, where the northern Black Hills reveal a dense concentration of early mining settlements and deep mountain gulches. Based on surveys from 1898 and 1913, the map documents the vertical world of the gold boom, centering on the significant operations at Lead and the Homestake Camp. The intricate rail network required to service these mountain outposts is clearly defined, including the winding routes of the Burlington and Missouri River R.R. and the Deadwood Central R.R., which navigated steep grades to reach sites like Terry and Trojan. Along the dramatic corridor of Spearfish Creek, the map identifies natural landmarks such as Bridalveil Falls and Spearfish Falls, alongside specialized camps and small mining hamlets like Carbonate and Cyanide that once dotted these narrow canyons.