Pactola Before The Dam
Posted by: 
brwhiz
N 44° 04.139 W 103° 29.043
13T E 621399 N 4880651
This Historical Marker is located on the west side of US Highway 385 in the Pactola Visitor Center on the southeast end of Pactola Dam, near Johnson Siding, South Dakota.
Waymark Code: WMGBXG
Location: South Dakota, United States
Date Posted: 02/11/2013
Views: 4
Pactola Before The Dam
Pactola - Sand-Bearing Gold
In 1876 prospectors developed a settlement along Rapid Creek called
Camp Crook. After a year of gold discoveries the miners
renamed the town Pactola meaning sand-bearing gold.
The town existed until 1952 when construction
of Pactola Reservoir began.
[Photograph of Pactola Basin]
Pactola Basin, circa 1940's
The farm in the center of this photo is of the Sherman homestead belonging to one of the first families to settle in the basin. Before the dam was build the Bureau of Reclamation cleared the basin area of the buildings. An auction was held and everything from houses like this one to chicken coops were purchased and moved elsewhere. The Sherman house can be seen today just 10 miles south of here and is now houses the Mistletoe Ranch business.