If you hail from the Mount Rushmore State, there is a good chance that you have heard the folklore surrounding the mysterious Thoen Stone: a slab of sandstone near Spearfish etched with a description that has baffled archaeologists and historians for generations. Are you familiar with the legend surrounding the Stone? We will catch you up:

Discovered by Louis Thoen in 1887, the Thoen Stone is a slab of sandstone that was first located near Lookout Mountain and has since been a mystery that cannot be solved.
Google/Dan Paulmeno
The mysterious Thoen Stone SD is displayed at the Historic Adams House in Deadwood.
TripAdvisor/Management
Spanning 10 by 8 inches, the stone ruins in South Dakota is inscribed with the following: "Came to these hills in 1833 seven of us DeLacompt, Ezra Kind, G.W. Wood, R. Kent, Wm. King, Indian Crow. All dead but me, Ezra Kind. Killed by [Indians] beyond the high hill. Got our gold June 1834."
Flickr/Wayne Hsieh
On the back, it reads: "Got all the gold we could carry. Our ponys all got by the Indians. I have lost my gun and nothing to eat and Indians hunting me."

Related Stories

The Heartbreaking Case That Was Solved 40 Years After Two Girls Went Missing In South Dakota

The Heartbreaking Case That Was Solved 40 Years After Two Girls Went Missing In South Dakota

 In 1936, South Dakota Plunged Into An Arctic Freeze That Makes Last Year's Winter Look Downright Mild

In 1936, South Dakota Plunged Into An Arctic Freeze That Makes Last Year's Winter Look Downright Mild

 Here Are 11 Little Known Facts That Should Make Every South Dakotan Proud

Here Are 11 Little Known Facts That Should Make Every South Dakotan Proud
The Theon Stone replica and marker inscribed with the history of Thoen Stone is located in Spearfish, South Dakota, on Thoen Stone Road, 0.3 miles south of St. Joe Street at the top of a small hill up a short winding path.
August Schwerdfeger/Flickr
We wonder: What makes the engraving on Theon Stone so baffling?
Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain
As per well-recorded South Dakota state history, the Gold Rush didn't even begin until the Custer Expedition of 1874 (pictured), which changes the trajectory of Mount Rushmore State history.
Like most important news stories, the legitimacy of the Thoen Stone SD has long been questioned, with many pointing to Louis Thoen — a career stonemason — as the carver.
YouTube/Portal of Wisdom
To make the story even more bizarre, a handwriting analyst once compared the handwriting of the Thoen brothers and those named on the stone (via old postcards and journal entries) and found that the script does not match.

For more information about this story, check out this video.

What do you think? Have you observed the Theon Stone? If so, please let us know in the comments. Discover more about Theon Stone on the Historic Adams House website. While you’re in the Deadwood area, check out these historic landmarks in South Dakota. And stay awhile in this cool tent with a hot tub!

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

More to Explore

History In South Dakota

Carolyn Harmon | October 23, 2023

What are some of the historic places to visit in South Dakota?

Visit some of these historical landmarks in Deadwood, South Dakota. Some of the highlights include the following.

  • Saloon No. 10 (657 Main St, Deadwood, SD): Even though the original Saloon No. 10 burnt down in 1879, the owners have done a great job in replicating the place where Wild Bill Hickok met his end in 1876. In addition to the hundreds of antiques and artifacts decorating the place, you won't want to miss the live re-enactments, live-action gambling, and musical performances, along with more than 171 choices of scotch, bourbons, and whiskey. Most people visit for the unforgettable and convincing reenactment of Wild Bill's murder.
  • Bullock Hotel (633 Main St, Deadwood, SD): This historic place was built in the late 1890s by Deadwood Sheriff Seth Bullock. Naturally, it boasts its share of ghosts for a building that has survived this long, which is one draw to the historic structure, including the old sheriff himself who is said to still frequent the rooms and hallways. As the oldest hotel in town, you'll find modern amenities, including a casino, 63 rooms, and a restaurant. Give yourself a vacation to this popular spot in South Dakota.
  • Mount Moriah Cemetery (10 Mt Moriah Dr, Deadwood, SD): Some say this land is notoriously haunted, as folks have reported feeling watched and hearing the voices of children throughout the cemetery. For one, it holds such famous folks as Seth Bullock, Calamity Jane, and Wild Bill Hancock. Not all of the bodies are famous; however, including a children's section full of bodies of those who sadly died from diseases of the time, a Potter's field with unmarked graves, and the generic Mass Gravesite. This cemetery offers the most exciting history lessons in the region.
  • And here are some really interesting photos of what life was like during the early 1900s in South Dakota.

Related Articles

Explore South Dakota

Featured Addresses
Thoen Stone Road, Thoen Stone Rd, Spearfish, SD 57783, USA