In July of 1874, an expeditionary force, led by General George Armstrong Custer, set out to explore the relatively unknown Black Hills.  Custer's expedition included military personnel, engineers, geologists, naturalists, practical miners, Indian scouts, a newspaperman and a photographer.

Historians disagree as to the exact date, whether it was late July or early August of 1874, when Horatio N. Ross, one of General Custer's practical miners, found the glimmer of gold in the sparkling waters of French Creek.  This monumental discovery spurred what is considered the last great gold rush in the continental United States.

The first arrivals found nuggets the size of pine cones, while the late-comers were less fortunate.  Placer claims were located on practically every creek in the northern Black Hills.  The operation of placer mining (washing the gold from course gravel of the creek beds) was short-lived.  The placers were worked out and the mining of gold ore in the hard rocks had begun.

Jewelry creators soon emerged in the booming hills of Dakota Territory.  Innovative designers brought an intriguing style of jewelry with them to the Black Hills.  The distinctive three-color configuration of grape and leaf designs traveled through the gold rush camps of the western frontier before arriving in the Black Hills of South Dakota.  History recalls that Black Hills gold jewelry was made and sold by S. T. Butler in Deadwood, South Dakota as early as 1878.  It wouldn't be until the late 1950's before Stamper Black Hills Gold Jewelry Inc. would be born.

Stamper Black Hills Gold History Page