Can you imagine what it was like to live in South Dakota in the late 1800s and early 1900s? Luckily, historians have preserved some of the earliest photos taken in our state, so that we can take a look right back in time.

1. Deadwood, 1876. Deadwood was founded in the Dakota Territory when gold was found.
Public Domain/Wikimedia
2. Deadwood, 1890. By 1890, Deadwood had turned into a thriving metropolis.
H. R. Locke & Co. of Deadwood, Public Domain/Wikimedia
3. Sturgis, 1887-1892. A line of oxen and wagons on Main Street in Sturgis, Dakota Territory.
Library of Congress
4. Cheyenne River, 1890. Part of the U.S. 8th Calvary and 3rd Infantry join the Cheyenne at the Great Indian Grass Dance.
Library of Congress
5. Mitchell, 1908. The Corn Palace has always been pretty spectacular.
Library of Congress
6. Camp Cheyenne, 1890. A young soldier and his horse.
Library of Congress
7. Black Hills, 1874. George Armstrong Custer poses with the bear he shot in the Black Hills.
Library of Congress

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8. Hot Springs, 1891. At the time, the "plunge bath house" was the largest in the U.S.
Library of Congress
9. Unknown Location, 1891. Branding cattle on a small ranch.
Library of Congress
10. Unknown Location, 1882. A pioneer family poses outside their sod house.
Library of Congress
11. Unknown Location, 1891. Cowboys sit under the trees to enjoy some dinner.
Library of Congress
12. Deadwood, 1903. Calamity Jane in front of Wild Bill's grave.
Library of Congress
13. Sioux Falls, 1910. Former President Theodore Roosevelt visited Sioux Falls.
Library of Congress
14. Sioux Falls, 1907. At the corner of Phillips Avenue and 9 Street.
Library of Congress

Do you have any old photos of South Dakota in your collection? We’d love to see them! Share them with our readers in the comments.

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