Like other towns in the Black Hills, Spearfish is filled with history of the Native Americans, gold fever, and explorations of unknown territory, a tribute to the hardy settlers of the 1800's. In 1833, a band of 7 men, in search of gold, entered the Black Hills. They had discovered gold and were headed home to tell of their exciting discovery, when they were attacked and killed by Indians. One of the men made it through the first attack and quickly etched their story on a rock. That rock has become known as the Thoen Stone, named for the man who found it, and their story, in 1887. Had they made it home, the gold rush would have begun many years earlier. The first settlers arrived in 1876 and camped near the Spearfish River, given it's name by the Indians who speared fish in its crystal clear waters. In 1877 a treaty with the Sioux brought an end to Indian hostilities, and Spearfish began to grow. The town soon became a center for commerce and community. It offered a quiet atmosphere, removed from the tawdry reputation of Deadwood and Lead. It became obvious that Spearfish would be the city to "clean up" the reputation of the Black Hills at that time.

In 1893, the railroad was built through Spearfish Canyon to bring ore to mines for processing, but it soon became an outstanding scenic attraction in the Black Hills. Spearfish Canyon today is designated a national Scenic Byway. In 1883 Spearfish became home to Spearfish Normal School, which is now the beautiful Black Hills State University. The major tourist attraction in Spearfish today is the Black Hills Passion Play, established by Josef Meier, who came from Germany in 1938 and felt Spearfish offered the perfect setting for this most inspiring of dramas.

Photo by South Dakota Tourism
Spearfish has a place of it's own in the Guinness Book of World Records as having undergone the greatest temperature variances. On January 22, 1943, the temperature shot from minus 4
degrees Fahrenheit to plus 49 degrees in less than 2 minutes. After this sudden climb, it dropped from plus 55 degrees to minus 5 degrees, then 15 minutes later rose to plus 55 degrees. These amazing temperature changes occurred because of the Chinook winds, called "snow eater" by the Indians. It's easy to see why! The Spearfish River, or as it is known today, Spearfish Creek, is also a mystery of science, because it is only one of two known rivers to freeze from the bottom up!

An early mayor of Spearfish said that the three mountains that surround the city appeared to form a crown around it, hence it was named "the Queen City." Crow Peak, Lookout Mountain, and Spearfish Mountain continue to stand like beautiful natural jewels around this pristine city of 12,000 people. Many cultural events provide enjoyment to locals and tourists alike, such as, the restored Matthews Opera House, the D.C. Booth Fish Hatchery, the Wildlife Sanctuary, and more.

For more information contact the Spearfish Chamber of Commerce @ 1-800-626-8013.  Or click here.