D.C. Booth Historic National
FISH HATCHERY & ARCHIVES With the popularity of trout fishing and the abundance of streams and great fishing opportunities in the area, visitors might not realize that trout are not native to the Black Hills. In 1890, because of the pristine water, habitat, and food sources for trout, Congress appropriated $500 to investigate the possibility of placing a hatchery near the Black Hills to establish trout populations in the area. After considering several locations, Spearfish was finally chosen because of the abundance of pure, cold spring water and its proximity to the town and railroad system, and in 1896, the Spearfish National Fish Hatchery was established, now called D.C. Booth National Historic Fish Hatchery & Archives.
In 1899, the completed hatchery building (which now houses a museum), raceways, ice house and rearing ponds were accepted from the contractor. Four days later, 100,000 trout eggs were incubating. In the 1980s, after years of very successful fish production that included overland trips to Yellowstone National Park; destructive floods; visits by heads of state; railroad journeys; and the hatching of millions of rainbow, brown, brook and cutthroat trout, the Spearfish National Fish Hatchery was briefly closed. In 1989, however, the hatchery was rehabilitated and reopened with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife museum, the CONTINUED ON PAGE 20
C E L E B R AT I N G
125 years IN 2021
D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery & Archives honors the past, celebrates the present, and builds into the future. The hatchery is a free family attraction located just blocks from downtown along Spearfish Creek. While visiting, take time to learn about the hatchery’s history, tour historic venues, and feed the fish.
more information D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery & Archives 605-642-7730 423 Hatchery Circle DCBoothFishHatchery.org OPEN YEAR-ROUND
Photo courtesy D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery & Archives
visitspearfish.com
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