Native Americans
Tipi rings and Native American stories remain to show the reverence the Lakota Indians held for the whistling entrance of the cave system.
Rediscovery of the Cave
Jesse and Tom Bingham chanced upon the cave system's only natural opening in 1881. Exploration of the cave system began the same year.
Creation of the National Park
On January 9, 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt signed legislation to protect the cave, making Wind Cave National Park the seventh park in the national park system.
Wind Cave National Game Preserve
Wind Cave National Game Preserve was created next to the park in 1912 to protect the ecosystems and wildlife above ground, especially the American bison, pronghorn, and elk. The preserve was merged with the park in 1935.
Development of Park Facilities
The Civilian Conservation Corps established a camp in Wind Cave National Park in 1934 to build the facilities needed to manage the park and encourage visitation. The camp continued to operate until 1942.
Changing Conservation Practices
In the early 1960s, the park shifted management practices from maximizing visitor use to limiting visitor use to better protect the natural resources. These practices have been continued with the addition of a cave management program in 1984.
Article Written By David Chandler
David Chandler has been a freelance writer since 2006 whose work has appeared in various print and online publications. A former reconnaissance Marine, he is an active hiker, diver, kayaker, sailor and angler. He has traveled extensively and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of South Florida where he was educated in international studies and microbiology.
