"Gold in them thar hills" was the cry in 1876 that led miners and their families to the Northern Black Hills, it wasn't long before one of the world's largest gold discoveries was uncovered in Lead, and the die was cast. Gold mining remained the foundation of Lead for over 125 years. While industrial changes have occurred over the years throughout town, the core of the community remained unchanged.

The Homestake Visitors Center, located on the rim of the Historic Open Cut, provides a scenic view of the Open Cut and boasts a gift shop featuring Black Hills Gold and a city bus tour. The Black Hills Mining Museum, located downtown, hosts a treasure-trove of mining artifacts and collections from all of the mining operations surrounding Lead. The Historic Homestake Opera House, also downtown, hosts numerous arts and performance festivals and is undergoing restoration after a disastrous fire in 1984.

The City of Lead is a hub for outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, skiing, snowmobiling, hunting and touring. Nearby are the Mickelson and Centennial Trails, Spearfish Canyon, Devils Tower National Monument and numerous Forest Service and South Dakota parks, lakes and campgrounds. Just a bit further down the road are Mt. Rushmore, Jewel Cave National Monument, the Badlands and Wind Cave National Park. Lead remains a wonderful place to live, work and visit.