History Below The Pines Presents: The Storytellers' Collection

In the Season 1 finale, History Below The Pines steps away from the shadows of Mount Rushmore to explore the "People’s History of Keystone" at its most enduring landmark: Halley’s General Store . Founded in the 1880s by a ventriloquist wagon peddler known as "Cheap John," Halley’s has evolved from a 19th-century mercantile into a living museum that remains virtually unchanged today. Levi Kessler,...

In this episode of the Storytellers Collection , we journey deep into the Black Hills to explore the remarkable transformation of a 125-year-old mica mine. First claimed in 1901, this bustling pegmatite mine once employed 50 men and fueled the industrial boom of the early 20th century before falling silent in 1920. After decades of sporadic activity and quiet abandonment, the site has found a seco...

In this episode of History Below the Pines , we travel to Butte, Montana—a city built on copper, grit, and 10,000 miles of underground tunneling. Known as "The Richest Hill on Earth," Butte’s legacy is one of staggering wealth and immense sacrifice. Levi sits down with Jeanette Kopf , the Executive Director of the World Museum of Mining . Located on the actual mine yard of the historic Orphan Girl...

In this episode of the History Below The Pines Storytellers Collection, Host Levi Kessler pulls up a barstool at one of the oldest watering holes in the Black Hills: The Casino Bar (affectionately known today as Lumpy’s) in Central City, SD. ​Established in 1888, this landmark has survived 130 years of boom, bust, and Black Hills grit. We dive into the era when Central City was a titan of the terr...

How did wild-caught dolphins end up in a knotty-pine tank in the Black Hills, or spending their winters in an Arizona car dealership parking lot? In this episode, we uncover the surreal and often somber history of Rapid City Marine Life , a roadside attraction that feels like a fever dream from a different era of animal entertainment. We trace the journey of these cetaceans from the Gulfarium in F...

In this episode we sit down with Tobias Steeves! Tobias is the owner and operator of the Tucked Tie Speakeasy. We talk everything from history of Prohibition in the Black Hills to the art of making cocktails! In future episodes we will go more into detail on the mobster side of things in the Black Hills!

In this episode, we descend deep into the legacy of the Homestake Mine, one of the most significant pillars of South Dakota’s history. We aren’t just looking at the blueprints or the production numbers; we’re sitting down with three men who spent their careers in the dark, breathing the air, and building the legend. Join us as we go straight to the source. Our guests pull back the curtain on life...

Join us for this historic episode as we take the podcast entirely underground! Recorded 600 feet deep inside the Big Thunder Gold Mine, Episode 5 features a special sit-down with owner Sandi and head tour manager Lizzy. Tune in as we dig into the rich history and fascinating stories buried deep within the mine. We may even talk about some ghost lore. This is an episode you do not want to miss!

In this episode we sit down with Erin Woodward the co-author of the book "The Price of Gold." Erin walks us through the journey of creating the book and gave us some insight into what used to be North America's deepest gold mine! This is an episode you do not want to miss! We will talk history of the Homestake, hear some stories, and even take a look at what the mine is today!

In this episode of History Below the Pines , we step back into the stone age as we look at the iconic now Defunct Bedrock City Theme Park in Custer, South Dakota. A beloved landmark through the 1960s, 70s, and 80s,90s, and early 2000s! The park was the ultimate roadside destination for families seeking a slice of prehistoric fun. This episode explores: Dabba-Doo Nostalgia: A look back at the park’...

In this episode we take you the listener underground to one of the Black Hills most iconic bars of all time. The historic and now defunt Inferno Tavern. In this episode we will hear from the founding family to a drummer who once partied in this legendary place. This is an episode you will not want to miss! Please note this property is strict private property and the owner is okay with us using the...

This first episode will be short but we wanted to introduce you to the podcast and tell you a little bit about who we are! Please note, since this recording we have upgraded our podcast set up including a new and improved mic. We are excited for future episodes to be released! Including an up and coming one where we sit down with a mine owner here in the Black Hills deep inside of their old mine!...

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