Plan your visit
Summer hours: Sunday - Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Winter hours: Starting Oct. 1, Monday-Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location and Parking
The Visitor Center is located just three miles from Deadwood in the heart of Lead, South Dakota at 160 West Main Street. Our location is easily accessible from Highway 14A and US Highways 85 and 385. Please be aware there will be summer construction on much of US Highway 385 through Pennington County. Additional details may be found at the South Dakota Department of Transportation website to help you plan your travel through the Black Hills.
The Visitor Center parking lot is spacious and free. Van accessible parking is available. RVs and tour buses are welcome.
Make the most of your visit to Lead by exploring the many local restaurants, shops, museums, recreation areas and parks. Several options are within walking distance of the Visitor Center, including a free splash-pad (seasonal) at Manuel Brothers Park.
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Accessibility
The Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center
We aim to make the visitor center welcoming to all who visit. We are committed to accessibility and constantly working towards additional improvements. If you have comments or concerns, please feel free to reach outat (605) 584-3110 or slhvc@sanfordlab.org.
Parking and Entrance
Van-accessible parking is located by the front door of the Visitor Center. A curb cut and ramp allow access to the front door from the parking area. Automatic door openers are located at the end of the ramp as you near the entrance.
Service Animals
Service animals are welcome in the Visitor Center and tours. Please call ahead if you would like your service animal to accompany you on a tour.
Audio Visual aids
We have several kiosks located throughout the Visitor Center. The kiosks have audio portions which can be quite loud, especially when the Visitor Center is at its busiest and during special events. Each of the kiosks offers closed captioning in English. Headphones are available for use upon request at the front counter.
Small snacks and beverages are available for purchase in the Visitor Center. Packed lunches can be eaten on the observation deck and in the classroom if available, or at the neighboring park. Inquire at the front desk about available options.
Restrooms
The restrooms at the Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center are accessible during normal operating hours. The restrooms are located at the end of the hall behind the tall white shelves. Public restrooms are also available in the neighboring park are open seasonally.
Top 5 Things To Do at the Visitor Center
- Pose for an Instagram-worthy photo in the Davis Ring, a piece of a Nobel Prize-winning experiment.
- Take in the view of the unique geology of the Homestake Gold Mine Open-Cut from our observation deck.
- Dive more deeply into the story through interactive activities for the whole family.
- Find the perfect gift or souvenir at the Visitor Center Museum Store.
- Tell us what you think! Post an online review on our Google or TripAdvisor sites, tag us on Instagram, or share your visit with us on our Facebook profile.
Contact us at (605) 584-3110.
