Buffalo

Population: 364 • Elevation: 2,881

Buffalo, located in the extreme northwest corner of South Dakota, is known for endless scenery and clear skies. From the rolling prairies to the buttes of Cave Hills, it is home to diverse wildlife such as eagles, turkeys, coyotes, antelope, deer, elk and mountain lions. Overnight visitors can choose from three motels and dine at several restaurants. If you're looking for a horse-riding vacation, check out nearby ranches that offer campsites, corrals and miles of scenic trails. Buffalo is 160 miles north of Rapid City at the junction of US Hwy. 85 and SD Hwy. 20.

Buffalo Historical Museum and One-Room Schoolhouse
The museum highlights local history from cattle-ranching and homesteading. Also on display is a one-room schoolhouse built in 1914 where students from every grade level received their lessons. The museum is open Memorial Day through Labor Day, Monday through Friday, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., or any time by appointment. There is no admission fee.

Cave Hills
Northwest of Buffalo is the scenic area of Cave Hills, rich in scenery and also Native American history. Scattered throughout the hills are northern-plains Indian petroglyphs carved from the soft sandstone, evidence of tipi rings and burial sites on land that is considered sacred by local Indian tribes.

Tipperary Legend
A monument in Buffalo immortalizes Tipperary, a legendary horse of the early 1900s. Tipperary initially roamed the range until corralled as a bucking bronc for rodeos. From 1915 to 1926 Tipperary bucked off 91 men but was eventually ridden by Yakima Canutt, a champion rider. Tipperary died during a blizzard in 1932, but he has a lasting legacy through the stone memorial in Buffalo City Park.

Battle of Slim Buttes
Location of a decisive victory for the U.S. Army in September 1876, after the defeat of George Armstrong Custer at the Little Big Horn in June. Ordered by Maj. Gen. Sheridan, Generals Alfred Terry and George Crooks were sent to return hostile Indians to their reservations. General Crook, along with well-armed soldiers and many battles, convinced most of the Sioux and Cheyenne Indians the futility of fighting the soldiers. Twenty-three miles east of Buffalo on SD Hwy. 20, the battle location is on private land, but a nearby monument commemorates the Battle of Slim Buttes.