Tourism, Recreation and the Civilian Conservation Corps
Have you heard of the Civilian Conservation Corps? If you or a relative grew up during the Great Depression (1929-39) you may have. Can you name any of the projects that the men of the CCC were involved in? If you work for the US Forest Service, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, state or some city park systems (Custer State Park is a good example), Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil Conservation Service), you should be able to.
If you are a teacher or administrator in any school system in the state then you should know about this important period in US and South Dakota history. If you are in the tourism industry in South Dakota or if you benefit from tourism you should know about the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Work done on lakes and preserves has created or enhanced wildlife habitat and hunters come from near and far because of it. Fishermen and their families enjoy the lakes created or enhanced by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Many lookout towers were built. Roads and trails were build. The health of the forests was greatly improved. Conservation practices learned and taught during the period still benefit farmers and ranchers today.
In the Black Hills the contribution of the men of the Civilian Conservation Corps is often overlooked or not even recognized. Let's list just a few of the accomplishments in the hills area.
* Custer State Park
* Mt. Coolidge - Lookout Tower
* Horsethief Lake
* Stockade Lake
* Center Lake
* Bismarck Lake
* Grizzly Bear Campground
* Cabins at Blue Bell & Sylvan Lake
* Custodian Cabin & Barn
* Bridges & Roads
* Norbeck Building (was Custer State Park visitor center until 2016)
* Camp Lodge - now home of Black Hills Playhouse
* Harney Peak (Black Elk) stone lookout tower
* Wind Cave - CCC built buildings, stairs in the cave, shaft for the elevator, fences, roads, lighting, more * Jewel Cave - CCC work similar to Wind Cave
* Badlands - CCC did road work, built buildings, more
* Pigtail Bridges
* Sheridan Lake - CCC and WPA project
* Canyon Lake area, Rapid City
* Many, many more projects
