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South Dakota History

Not Many People Know The Story Behind This Iconic South Dakota Tower

By Annie | Published January 04, 2019

You have seen more pictures of this South Dakota monument than you can count and have probably even visited a time or two… but do you really know anything about it? Come to find out, we didn’t even know the half of it, which is why we were so excited to learn the full story behind this iconic South Dakota tower:

Located in Deadwood is Mount Roosevelt, which is more commonly known by South Dakotans as the "Friendship Tower" monument.

Named after -- you guessed it -- Theodore Roosevelt, Friendship Tower was the creation of Seth Bullock, who built the tribute after Roosevelt's death in 1919.

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How did Bullock and Roosevelt become friends? The two originally met while Roosevelt worked on a North Dakota ranch and stayed friends during his presidency and beyond!

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Today, this sign of a true friendship, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005, can still be visited.

In addition to the tower itself, the area is a great place to walk, hike, or bike, thanks to a beautiful trail surrounded by the Black Hills in all of its glory.

The Friendship Tower can be accessed by taking US Hwy 85 northbound from Deadwood for 1.5 miles and turning onto FSR 133. After 2 miles, you will see signs for the Mt. Roosevelt picnic area, which is where the trailhead begins.

Learn more about another one of our favorite SoDak towers by clicking The Best Place To Enjoy A South Dakota Fall Is From Atop This 80-Foot Wooden Tower.

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