Travel Guide Hot Springs

The region has always been known for its natural sources of hot water. First frequented by Sioux and Cheyenne who regarded its mineral waters as sacred and appreciated the healing virtues, it was then European settlers who began to venture there in the nineteenth century. Originally called "Minnekahta", according to its name Lakota, the city became Hot Springs in 1882. Over time, sources have remained a popular attraction and other tourist sites have come together like the Mammoth Site Research Center or the Wild Horse Sanctuary, the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary. The small center, which distinguishes itself from a typical sandstone architecture and concentrates some restaurants and shops. The city is also known as a gateway to the Black Hills, especially on the Wind Cave National Park, a dozen kilometers north.