Lead Vacations, Lead Vacation Reviews, Tourism Guide

Lead Vacation Guide

Lead (pronounced LEED) was founded in 1876 as a mining town, and is aptly named for the mining term describing a layer of material (in this case, gold) suitable for mining. Its modern boundaries are adjacent to those of Deadwood, and the two communities are often called sister cities (or, locally, the Twin Cities). The towns created a close connection early on, as Lead became the dominant mining community, while Deadwood became the regional commercial and political hub.

The Homestake Gold Mine dominated the city of Lead from its beginning. At its height, Homestake was the oldest and deepest operating gold mine in the western hemisphere. Though it closed in 2002, the mine remains the town's most visible mark. A visitor center and museum interprets the mine's history and provides impressive views over its massive open cut. In 2007, the mine was selected by the National Science Foundation as the site of a new national underground laboratory, and a few preliminary scientific experiments are already underway.

Lead's downtown core isn't as old or as vibrant as Deadwood's - much of it was destroyed to make room for the expanding mine in the 1920s - but it's still appealing, with an art gallery, a couple of restaurants, a 1914 opera house and a few modern hotels. Modern travelers appreciate Lead's connection with the outdoors, as it lies along the 117-mile-long Mickelson Trail (for bikers, hikers and snowmobilers) and is only three miles from two ski slopes.