Jewel Cave National Monument
Jewel Cave National Monument contains Jewel Cave, currently the fifth longest cave in the world and second longest cave in the United States, with 219.77 miles (353.69 km) of mapped passageways as of March 2024. It is located approximately 13 miles (21 km) west of the town of Custer in Black Hills of South Dakota. It became a national monument in 1908.
Visitors and guide inside Jewel Cave
Much of Jewel Cave is covered with spar crystals, but they are rarely as clear as this cluster.
Spar crystals cover much of the walls in some sections of the cave. Typically they are a dull brown color as in this room.
Aragonite frostwork is another speleothem found throughout the cave, typically in small crusts on the walls.
Custer is a city in Custer County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 1,919 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Custer County.
Custer, South Dakota
Oxen-drawn freight team entering Custer in 1876
Shop in Custer main street 2006
Downtown Custer, South Dakota