1. In 1874, General George Armstrong Custer led an expedition into the Black Hills region of South Dakota. This led to the discovery of gold in the area, which sparked the Black Hills Gold Rush.

2. Deadwood, South Dakota was founded on July 6, 1876. This town became famous for its lawlessness and was the site of the murder of Wild Bill Hickok.

3. On July 6, 1892, the Homestake Mine in Lead, South Dakota became the largest gold mining operation in the United States. The mine produced over 40 million ounces of gold before closing in 2001.

4. In 1918, a fire broke out in the town of Porcupine, South Dakota. The fire destroyed most of the town, including the school and 34 homes.

5. On July 6, 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated Mount Rushmore National Memorial. The monument features the carved heads of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.