The Story
The Roundup began in 1918 as the "Tri-State Roundup," organized to raise money for Red Cross relief during World War I. The inaugural event drew an estimated 15,000 to a town of about 1,410 residents and raised nearly $20,000. There were no chutes and barely enough fencing; cowboys used rough techniques like biting a horse's ear to control it. The war ended that November, but the event's popularity kept it going as an annual Fourth of July tradition and a sanctioned professional rodeo.
Surprising Facts
→ It began as a WWI Red Cross fundraiser, not a planned recurring event.
→ The first event drew roughly 15,000 spectators to a town of only ~1,400.
→ The Belle Fourche Cowboy Band, formed 1931, once performed for a sitting president at Mount Rushmore.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Black Hills Roundup?
Black Hills Roundup is at Roundup St (Roundup Grounds), Belle Fourche, SD. Explore it on the When It Was interactive map.
How old is Black Hills Roundup?
Black Hills Roundup dates to 1918, making it more than 108 years old.
Can you still visit Black Hills Roundup?
Yes — the site at Roundup St (Roundup Grounds), Belle Fourche, SD still stands and remains in use today.