Did the Gold Rush Forever Tarnish the Black Hills?

Between 1874-1876, thousands of citizens illegally entered the Black Hills in search of gold. Every gold panner, newspaper article, and frontier story told of great wealth and encouraged the onslaught of the region.
The military made vain efforts to control the tide of illegal gold seekers. Before long, 10,000-12,000 people flooded the region, building towns and mining camps. To quell the rush, something had to be done. The government planned another expedition, the Newton-Jenney Expedition, in 1875. The party had orders to determine a price tag on the region's wealth.
Did the Manypenny Treaty Open the Black Hills?
In 1876, the Manypenny Commission offered the Sioux an agreement that allowed compensation in the form of food, land and houses. It also decreased the size of the Great Sioux Reservation by removing the Black Hills.
The treaty was not negotiated but rather offered as a last resort to tribal leaders facing many changes on the Great Plains. The Commission failed to obtain the required number of signatures to make the agreement legal. However, Congress still passed an act putting forth the agreement in 1877.
This Land is Not for Sale
The Newton-Jenney Expedition of 1875 valued the Black Hills at $6,000,000. This did not sway the Lakota/Dakota Sioux tribes, and they stressed



that the region was theirs by the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty. The government responded by withdrawing its troops, and the prospectors were left to enter or remain at their own risk.

Sorry, but we don't have a picture of this historical marker yet. If you have a picture, please share it with us. It's simple to do. 1) Become a member. 2) Adopt this historical marker listing. 3) Upload the picture.

Show me all markers in:  Custer, SD  |  Custer County  |  57730  |  South Dakota  |  United States of America

Prospectors in Search of Gold
An Expedition of Mixed Outcomes
An Agreement Between Cultures
Anna Donna Tallent
Campsite of General Custer's Expedition
Stockade Lake Bridge
Miners Meet 1875
Frontier Protection
Horace N. Ross
Custer County Courthouse

• GPX
• KML
• LOC

Have you seen this marker? If so, check in and tell us about it.