The Black Hills Of South Dakota were once the sacred ground of the most powerful tribe of Native Americans. The northwest Lakota Sioux flourished for over 100 years aided by the introduction of (Spanish conquistador) horses. The bison hunting Lakota were finally displaced by fur trappers, cattle ranching, and homesteaders, and ultimately confined to reservation life in the 1890s.
Today, the Black Hills area is one of Rapid City's prime tourist destinations. The most famous memorial, Mount Rushmore, tops the list. Nearby is another granite carving, the Crazy Horse Memorial, which stands 560 feet. Most of the area's attractions will take visitors near the Needles Highway, a tight two-laner that winds through the Black Hills for 14 miles. Traveling along this scenic drive leads past billion year old granite spires and monoliths. Route 87 has some genuine corkscrew curves as the snake-like highway climbs through these famous hills.