West River History Conference, Inc.

06/14/2026

Historians: Amateur and professional historians are welcome to present at the West River History Conference! Check out details here: https://www.westriverhistoryconference.org/
YOU Write History!!

05/19/2026

Don’t miss this event!!

Join local historian Paul Higbee for his talk commemorating the 150th anniversary of the founding of Spearfish. "The Roots of Spearfish" will be presented on Friday, May 29, 2026, at 2 p.m. at the High Plains Western Heritage Center. The event is free and open to the public and takes place exactly 150 years to the day from when the town of Spearfish was first surveyed on May 29, 1876. The center is also hosting a photo exhibit curated by BHSU's Case Library, "Remembering Spearfish: 150 Years of Community" covering the first 75 years of Spearfish history. It can be viewed from now into the summer season. For more information, visit: https://libguides.bhsu.edu/Spearfish150 or call (605)642-9378.

04/17/2026

HISTORIANS: WRHC CALL FOR PRESENTERS NOW OPEN...Check out this opportunity to present your original research ... amateur OR professional... at the 34th conference, October 2026...Rapid City... www.westriverhistoryconfernce.org
Don't miss this!!

04/14/2026

https://www.augie.edu/resources/center-western-studies/events-conferences/dakota-conference

58th annual DAKOTA CONFERENCE, April 23-24, 2026, Sioux Falls, SD, the Center for Western Studies at Augustana University. Registration still open ... meet you there!

Augustana University Center for Western Studies' Dakota Conference

04/01/2026

Don’t miss this historic program!

This presentation by author and historian Donovin Sprague commemorates the 150th anniversary of the June 25–26, 1876, Battle of the Greasy Grass, also known as the Battle of the Little Big Horn, with an in-depth overview of the events leading up to the conflict, the battle itself, and its aftermath. Through photographs and unfolding maps, the program highlights the participants, with special attention to Native perspectives and the lasting importance of the event in Lakota history. The presentation concludes with a discussion of the final battle encampments and current developments at Little Bighorn National Monument. Donovin Sprague is a direct descendant of several individuals who fought in the battle, including High Backbone (Hump) and Crazy Horse, offering a personal and historically grounded perspective. Homestake Adams Research and Cultural Center; 12:00 p.m.; free for members and $5 for non-members.

03/16/2026

Another terrific event from the Center for Western Studies, Augustana University, Sioux Falls!

02/25/2026

Don’t miss this!!

Turtle Soup Spotlight - From Prospectors to a City: Rapid City’s Early Story

Join Dr. David Wolff as he explores how Rapid City rose from a rough frontier beginning to become the “Gateway to the Black Hills.” Follow John Brennan’s 1876 journey from failed gold claims to the founding of a one-square-mile townsite along Rapid Creek—built with vision, persistence, and purpose.

This talk examines Rapid City’s early struggles, the industries and transportation routes that fueled growth, and how tourism helped shape the community we know today. Based on The Gateway to the Hills by Wolff, this program offers insight into the determination that defined Rapid City’s beginnings.

Don’t miss this deep dive into our local history.
Friday, February 27th @ 11:45 AM
Tickets: https://www.journeymuseum.org/turtle-soup

10/27/2025

Don't miss this!!

November 6: Preservation Thursday: Dark Winter - The Pursuit of Justice for Murderer George Sitts

Journalist Tim Velder will present the gripping true story of the December 1945 murder of a St. Paul, Minnesota, liquor store clerk and the subsequent nationwide manhunt for the suspect, George Sitts. Velder will trace the dramatic sequence of events – from the initial crime, capture, and conviction, to Sitts’ daring escape in January 1946 and the ensuing chase through the Black Hills and into Wyoming that left even more tragedy in its wake. Drawing from more than 35 years of research, including newspaper accounts and first-person stories, Velder brings this incredible chapter of history to life. Homestake Adams Research and Cultural Center; 12:00 p.m.; free for members and $5 for non-members.

10/19/2025

Do not miss this event!

Monday October 20, 2025, We're welcoming Brad Tennant as a guest speaker at the Beulah Williams Library. Everyone is welcome to join us in the Round Room of the library on NSU's campus at 3:30pm!

Brad Tennant, Mitchell SD, is a historian/humanities scholar researching, writing, and presenting on topics related to South Dakota and Northern Plains history.

Hosted by the Dacotah Prairie Museum and the Association of South Dakota Museums.