BADLANDS History of Badlands National Monument and The White River (Big) Badlands of South Dakota

1823—First known party of white men, led by fur-trader Jedediah Smith, passed through the White River Badlands.

1849—First scientific party, under Dr. John Evans, collected paleontological specimens from the Badlands.

1855—The General William Haney Expedition, en route from Fort Laramie to Fort Pierre, passed through the present national monument.

1868—Present western South Dakota reserved to the Sioux by Fort Laramie Treaty.

1874—Dr. O. C. Marsh, distinguished Yale scientist, and party visited Badlands region.

1890—Much of the Badlands restored to public domain to be opened eventually to white settlement.

A band of Sioux, under Chief Big Foot, passed through the area of the present national monument en route to Wounded Knee, where many were killed in battle with the army.

1907—The Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad built through Interior near southern boundary of area. The Chicago and North Western Railway constructed through Philip and Wall near northern boundary.

1909—The South Dakota Legislature petitioned Congress to set aside a township in the Badlands region for a national park.

1922—Senator Peter Norbeck introduced the first bill in Congress to make a portion of the Badlands a national park.

1929—Badlands National Monument, comprising some 50,830 acres, authorized by Congress.

1936—Law enacted authorizing enlargement of the proposed national monument to 250,000 acres by presidential proclamation.

1939—Badlands National Monument, comprising about 150,000 acres, established by presidential proclamation.

1952—Congress authorized reduction in size of national monument. Area reduced by about 27,000 acres.

1957—Area further reduced by approximately 11,000 acres, leaving the national monument with an official acreage of 111,529.82 acres.

1959—Visitor center completed.

Badlands National Monument dedicated by Secretary of the Interior Fred A. Seaton.

1963—Bison reintroduced to the Badlands.

1964—Bighorn reintroduced to the Badlands.

Cedar Pass Lodge acquired by the National Park Service.