Once vital to fire prevention and detection, most of the Black Hills
National Forest historic lookout towers now serve primarily as hiking
destinations. The first crude lookout structures were built at Custer
Peak and Harney Peak in 1911. Since that time, more than 20 towers have
been constructed in the area. The first lookout towers were built of
wood, most replaced by steel or stone. The Civilian Conservation Corps
was instrumental in constructing fire towers during the 1930s and 1940s.
One of the most famous and architecturally and aesthetically valued
towers is the Harney Peak Fire Lookout--situated on the highest point
east of the Rocky Mountains. Harney Peak is among a number of Black
Hills towers listed on the National Historic Lookout Register. Over 200
vintage images tell the story of not only the historic fire towers but
those who manned them. Perched atop high peaks in remote locations, fire
lookout personnel spent countless hours scanning the forest, pinpointing
dangers, often experiencing the powerful wrath of lightning strong
enough to jolt them off their lightning stools.