Isn’t old film the greatest thing since sliced bread? Whether it’s family videos, old-time documentaries, or historic interviews, film gives us a first-hand glimpse into the past that we may never have had otherwise, so when we find something this special, you know we have to share it! Since mining played such a huge role in the formation of South Dakota, we were thrilled to find this actual footage from a working mine:

Before watching the film, a brief history lesson: In 1874 -- nearly 15 years before entering the Union -- General George Armstrong Custer discovered gold in the area, which in turn started the infamous Black Hills Gold Rush.
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Though the Sioux owned the land in which the gold was found, they were forced off of it, resulting in a bloody war that they eventually lost. Mines were allowed to open and mining families to move in from all parts of the country.
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One of the biggest and most profitable of these South Dakota mines was the Homestake, which ran from 1877 through 2002.
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While it was open, the Homestake Mine would uncover tens of millions of dollars worth of gold each year.
Despite its 41 million ounces of gold and 9 million ounces of silver over its lifetime, the Homestake Mine is now home to the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory, the deepest underground laboratory in the country that conducts numerous science experiments.
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While the original Homestake Mine is no more, we do have a glimpse of it during its heyday, thanks to Charlie Dean Archives:

Did you or someone you know work at Homestake? We would love to hear about it in the comments! In the meantime, see These 13 Candid Photos Show What Life Was Like In South Dakota In the 1940s.

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