Lead

Homestake Mine

State: South Dakota County: Lawrence County Founded: 1876 Abandoned: Never fully Peak Population: 8,000

Lead (pronounced Leed) was built around the Homestake Mine, the deepest in North America. The mine closed in 2002; the town survives with about 3,000 residents.

Plan Your Visit

Best Time: Year-round

Difficulty: Easy

Time Needed: 2-3 hours

Quick Facts

  • Deepest mine in North America
  • From 8,000 to 3,000
  • Now hosts physics research

Location

Address: Lead, South Dakota

Coordinates: 44.3519, -103.7658