Jewel Cave, Show cave in Custer County, United States
Jewel Cave extends through 335 kilometers of underground passages, featuring calcite crystal formations, making it the third-longest cave system worldwide.
Two gold prospectors, Frank and Albert Michaud, discovered the cave in 1900 after investigating wind sounds coming from a natural rock opening.
The National Park Service provides guided tours with lanterns that replicate the exploration methods used by early cave investigators in the 1900s.
Visitors can access the cave through an elevator system from the main center, with multiple tour options ranging from 20 minutes to 4 hours.
Scientists estimate that only 3 to 5 percent of the cave system has been mapped, suggesting potential additional passages spanning thousands of miles.
Location: Custer County
GPS coordinates: 43.72944,-103.82944
Latest update: March 8, 2025 11:42
South Dakota holds natural spaces, historical sites, and cultural locations beyond Mount Rushmore. Visitors encounter waterfalls in Spearfish Canyon, underground cave systems like Jewel Cave, and geological formations at the Badlands Wilderness Area. Bear Butte and Spirit Mound Historic Prairie connect nature with Native American heritage, while places like the Akta Lakota Museum & Cultural Center and the Wounded Knee Museum offer perspectives on Lakota culture. Historical sites such as Fort Sisseton and the Ingalls Homestead show different chapters of settlement and daily life from past centuries. Museums and galleries across the state present regional collections and art, including the Redlin Art Center and The Museum @ Black Hills Institute with paleontological finds. Natural areas like Smith Falls State Park, Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge, and LaFramboise Island Nature Area invite birdwatching, hiking, and exploration. Landscapes range from prairie grasslands to petrified forests and rock formations at Devils Gulch, while parks and recreation areas like McCrory Gardens, Hitchcock Park, and several lakes provide space for outdoor activities.
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