Black Hills, South Dakota, USA, then and now
In the 1870s, the Black Hills of South Dakota was a gateway to the American West. The 1874 image shows a wagon train moving single file across the landscape. According to photographer robertwellmancampbell, “…the wagon train was stopped for a corduroy “bridge” to be laid downstream (i.e. further left).” A corduroy road or bridge is made of logs placed across the width of a path, usually to help vehicles, livestock, and travelers traverse swampy or wet lands without getting stuck. This wagon train was part of the Black Hills Expedition of 1874, led by General George Custer and one of the last Gold Rush expeditions of the era. It is considered one of the “best documented” expeditions in the Old West, with explorers keeping journals, filing reports, and photographer W.H. Illingworth taking photographs. The 2021 image shows how close the modern road follows the path of the Custer wagon train.