Hill City
The “Heart of the Hills” — will again be a hub of activity through the spring and summer seasons.
Arts events include the Art Extravaganza on May 10, a Main Street event which features local artists, and the Arts and Crafts Celebration on June 28 and June 29 will have entertainment and food.
Street rods will again make their way to the Hill City July 10-13 with the Counts of the Cobblestones Hill Run.
And of course, during the Sturgis motorcycle rally in August, bikers are welcome to park on Main Street and to enjoy the Bikers Breakfast and Taco Bar at the Senior Center during rally week.
Looking ahead to September 19 - 21, Hill City will host a new event in conjunction with the 10th anniversary of the Mickelson Trail Trek.
The Chambers of Commerce of towns in the region will be invited, Verchio said. The town with the biggest team will get a trophy.
For a detailed list of Hill City events, go to http://www.hillcitysd.com.
Hill City
As the oldest existing town in Pennington County, Hill City, (population 780; elevation 4,974 feet) “the Heart of the Hills,” retains much of that old flavor of early times. In fact, promoting the town’s historic heritage has brought new life to the area, which was threatened as local logging has become less economically viable.
Still a work in progress, Hill City has moved to the forefront of favorite Black Hills tourist spots and has become a recognized arts and cultural center and all-around great place to kick back and enjoy a weekend getaway or family vacation.
Hill City already had numerous tents and a few shanties when gold was discovered in Deadwood in February 1876. Almost overnight, the gold seekers en masse rushed to the latest bonanza. Eventually, the disheartened trickled back to their Hill City claims and built a permanent settlement. Stagecoaches and the railroad came through town, and Hill City prospered.
Today, the 1880 Train runs on original tracks up Tin Mill Hill and passes mining camp ruins on its way to Keystone and back, with historical narratives en route.
Hill City has gained worldwide attention as home of Black Hills Institute of Geological Research, the discoverers and curators of “Sue,” the most complete Tyrannosaurus rex specimen ever found, and subject of a saga that involved confiscation, lawsuits and finally, an auction at Sotheby’s that brought the hammer down on Sue for $8.3 million to Chicago’s Field Museum of Natural History. The institute has its own museum crammed full of Jurassic goodies.