Homestake Aqueduct: Bringing Water to Mines and Mills in the Black Hills

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Roads, Rivers, Rails and Trails (and more): The Archaeology of Linear Historic Properties" , at the 2020 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

The Homestake Aqueduct (39LA2057) in Lawrence County, South Dakota is a pipeline constructed by the Homestake Mining Company to transfer water from Spearfish Creek to the mines and mills of the Lead-Deadwood area. This predominately subterranean system was likely started in 1879 and completed in 1881 and consists dozens of miles of waterlines. When constructed, it was likely lined with a wooden flume system and has since been replaced with clay tile and metal pipelines. The system connects with the Hanna Pump Station and hydropower plants along the route and has several water transportation features including trestles, tunnels, cisterns, pumphouses, and valves. It is significant for its association with historic mining in the Black Hills and with mining entrepreneur George Hearst. It is further significant for its unique types of construction and maintenance covering several features and landscapes.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Roads, Rivers, Rails and Trails (and more): The Archaeology of Linear Historic Properties   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2020

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Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 274