The Homestake Visitor Center (160 W. Main St., 605/584-3110, www.homestakevisitorcenter.com, Oct.–mid-May daily 8 a.m.–5 p.m., mid-May–Oct. daily 8 a.m.–6 p.m., free) sits on the edge of a huge gouge in the surface of the hillside; known as the “Open Cut,” the gap was created by miners hauling out tons of rock from the Homestake Mine to process into gold.

The Homestake Visitor Center features mining artifacts, including cyanide pellets(!), carbide hats, old helmets, and air packs. A free informational video on mining plays on demand and there is a nice display of the rocks and minerals of the region. Gold panning is offered on the observation deck and a small gift shop is on-site.

The most popular offering of the center is the one-hour guided tour (May–Sept., adult $6, student $5) of Lead and of the surface operations of the Homestake Mine. The tour starts at the Open Cut behind the center, where a presentation about the open mine is given. After the presentation, the group boards a trolley.

As the trolley travels through town, the guide provides information about the historic buildings, the history of the town, and the geology of the region. A stop at the Yates Hoisting Room and at the surface area of the mine inspires a discussion of mining processes, including hoisting, crushing, and milling of the ore.

It’s a fascinating history as the scope of the Homestake Mine is revealed. From 1875 to 2001, the mine reached depths of more than 8,000 feet below the town and pulled 39.65 million ounces of gold out of the hills. By comparison, the entire Black Hills region in that period produced a total of 46.5 million ounces of gold.

The tour also covers the problem of subsidence in Lead. At one time, there was so much excavation under the town that parts of the community began to sink into the earth as old mine shafts collapsed. The entire eastern portion of the town moved west as parts of the community started to sink as much as 35 feet. It’s a fascinating look at this historic company town.