Walking through the grounds
As you walk up the hill to the Yellowstone Boat , a boardwalk takes you up close to this authentic piece of history . During its working years , this boat lived at Yellowstone Lake and was used to collect fish and eggs that were shipped to the hatchery in Spearfish , South Dakota .
The Fish Railcar # 3 is a great venue to explore . Interesting to note , before World War II there were ten federal fish railcars that crossed the country collecting fish and then stocking them as the train traveled across the country . The Fish Railcars were scrapped for metal during the war . Therefore , the Fish Railcar on the hatchery grounds is a replica , built in the 1990 ’ s . If you would like to view the inside of the car , stop by during the summer .
Next to the Railcar you will find the Icehouse . Before refrigeration , hatchery staff collected ice from the ponds in the winter to keep fish cool and oxygenated during summer activities . During summer months , you can walk the inside of the ice house which has a variety of Invasive species displays , fish mounts and the American Fisheries Society Hall of Fame plaques .
The Fisheries Museum is down the hill from the railcar . The building was the original hatchery building where fish eggs were hatched and fish were raised . There are many exhibits telling the fisheries story , with items from the archives collection on display . An upcoming museum renovation starting in the Summer of 2023 will provide added storytelling opportunities .
On the top of the hill is the Historic Booth House , built for the first superintendent in 1905 . It was one of the fanciest houses in Spearfish at the time , with electricity and plumbing . Behind the Booth House is Ruby ’ s Garden . The garden is home to a variety of plants and flowers , some of which grew in the area in the early 1900s .
60 Black Hills Adventure Guide 2023