Box Elder Vacations, Box Elder Vacation Reviews, Tourism Guide

Box Elder Vacation Guide

In the late 1800s, the present day Box Elder was only a fertile valley. Lone Tree, a few miles east of Box Elder, was a stop for the covered wagons and horsemen who were going from Fort Pierre to the Black Hills Stage and Wagon Road. In 1907, the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad built its track from Wasta to Rapid City. This was the beginning of the present day Box Elder. Box Elder got its name from the large number of boxelder trees (a.k.a. Ashleaf Maple - Acer Negundo) along Box Elder Creek which flows through the valley.

Originally a stop on the Milwaukee Railroad, Box Elder later became home to Ellsworth Air Force Base, a multi-wing, multi-mission defense base, now it is the home of the B1B Bomber. The skies over Box Elder are often filled with all types of military aircraft, B-1, B-2, T-38, T-37, helicopters, tankers, and all types of visiting aircraft from around the country. The Air and Space Museum is located just outside the gates of Ellsworth AFB. There are many types of aircraft on display at the museum; it is well worth your time to visit it.