As a northern gateway to the Black Hills, the Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center (Visitor Center) welcomes visitors from all over the world to Lead (pronounced leed), South Dakota. Conveniently positioned on Main Street, the Visitor Center is your first stop in the City of Lead!
Here, you'll discover the story of this region — from the bountiful flora and fauna that supported indigenous populations for millennia, to the creation of the deepest gold mine in the Northern Hemisphere, to Nobel Prize-winning science, to secrets of the universe still being uncovered at the Sanford Underground Research Facility — through exhibits, pop-up activities, and conversation with our knowledgeable staff.
Our facility offers a wide range of memorable experiences for curious minds of all ages. From the observation deck, view the unique geology of the Open Cut. Take a photo in front of the Davis Ring, a piece of a Nobel Prize-winning experiment hosted nearly a mile underground. See a suspended sculpture of the vast underground workings, then step inside a real cage once used to transport researchers and staff to the underground. In the summer, take a free tour of Čhaŋgléška Wakȟáŋ, the ethnobotanical garden at SURF. Plus, take some inspiration home with you; we offer unique souvenirs, educational gifts, and more at the Museum Store.
The Visitor Center bolsters SURF's mission to advance world-leading science and inspire learning across generations by hosting K-12 education and public outreach events, and we proudly promote and support tourism and local businesses. Start planning your visit today.
We are located at 160 West Main Street in Lead, South Dakota. The Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center is owned and operated by the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority (SDSTA), which also manages Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF).
Contact the Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center at (605) 584-3110.
