State Park Officials Looking for Postcards

PIERRE, S.D. – State Park officials for the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department are looking for historical postcards that relate to Roughlock Falls Nature Area in Spearfish Canyon.  The area is witnessing a major project, including improved parking, better directional signage, interpretive boardwalk trails and an enhanced one-mile interpretive nature trail.    

One aspect of the project is the placement of six interpretive panels along the one-mile nature trail.  The trail extends from the back parking lot of Spearfish Canyon Lodge to the Roughlock Falls site.  It meanders along a wetland scene, yet showcases the natural diversity of the canyon.  The proposed panels are designed to tell the story behind scenery, including topics such as wildlife, wetlands, geology and forestry.  However, to combine the natural history with the cultural history of the area, project planners are searching for original postcards that provide visitor comments of the site. 

Bradley Block, Chief of Interpretation, states, “The overall project is exciting, and when completed, visitors will experience the nature area to a higher level.  Interpretive panels provide meanings behind the scenery, 24 hours a day, 365 days each year.”  Original postcards provide clues to the past, exposing written word from one visitor to another.  Historical postcards also highlight the changes in design from one generation to the next.  Block comments, “By using various postcards, the interpretive panels can demonstrate that visitors have been attracted to Roughlock Falls Nature Area for many years.  From the few that have already been collected, past visitor comments rave about the beauty behind the site … which echoes modern day remarks.”

The project is scheduled for completion by early June.  Construction has already taken place in many respects, and the interpretive messages are being developed over the winter season.  For anyone interested in providing historical postcards, the deadline for submissions is Friday, Jan. 25.  Park officials are requesting original postcards.  However, electronic copies are also accepted as JPEG or TIF files at 600 dpi.  The final image size should be a minimum of 5 inches by 7 inches.

Original postcards will be returned if accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope.  To submit your postcards, please mail them to Bradley Block, Chief of Interpretation, Custer State Park, 13329 US Hwy 16A, Custer, SD 57730.  Electronic copies should use e-mail service at brad.block@state.sd.us.

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