Rockerville was the place to be in 1876 due to the discovery of gold. By 1880, it was booming with hundreds of buildings and a population of around a thousand.
Pierre, South Dakota – Rockerville made national headlines for over a decade during its time and was one of the most well known mining towns in the area. Originally established as a mining camp, Rockerville was named for the „rockers“ which were used to separate placer gold from stream gravel. Like many mining camps, the town had its ups and downs and eventually the placers played out and the miners departed for greater opportunities.
Present-day Rockerville is located on US Highway 16 between Rapid City and HillCity. Various tourist attractions are provided in a setting of false-fronts, wooden sidewalks, and a profusion of relics of days gone by. The old buildings and ruggedness of the property can be viewed as a ghost town attraction and location.
The Marks of History series is a project of the South Dakota Office of Tourism designed to highlight historic markers all across South Dakota. Click on the special „Marks of History“ link at MediaSD.com to access the complete list of articles.
The Marks of History series is part of Goal 1 of the 2010 Initiative to double visitor spending in South Dakota and Goal 4 to enhance history and arts as a tool for economic development and cultural tourism in South Dakota. The Office of Tourism serves under the direction of Richard Benda, Secretary of the Department of Tourism and State Development.
Photo: South Dakota Office of Tourism
