Glen Erin School – first in the Black Hills
My favorite thing about living in the Black Hills is that there is always something new to discover. Last weekend some family and I were out for a drive in the southern Black Hills, when we happened upon a surprising little building.
Nestled quietly along the western border of Custer State Park, sits the historic Glen Erin School – the first public school building in the Black Hills. I’d never heard of this before, so had to stop to check it out.
It is the original school house, built in 1882, which has been carefully restored by the Custer County Historical Society. A new roof and entrance to the building have been added on to help protect it from the elements, but most of the logs in the side walls and the foundation are original.
Rustic benches and desks have been added to the inside to try to re-create the original atmosphere as much as possible. The Glen Erin School is a really unique little place in the Black Hills and is well worth a visit.
It is located on Lower French Creek Road, east of Custer a few miles and south of Stockade Lake. I took several photos of the school and have posted a few of them here to pique your interest.
Just another one of the hidden gems in the Black Hills. What’s your favorite “off the beaten path” discovery in the area?
