Custer Peak Fire Lookout, SD 2025
Join us in the Black Hills of South Dakota to preserve the Custer Peak Fire Lookout, a fire lookout tower with ties to the early days of fire management.
PROJECT PARTNER: Black Hills National Forest
SESSION DATES: August 31 – September 5
CAPACITY PER SESSION: 6 Volunteers (No Kitchen Helper)
PROJECT SUPERVISOR: John Savoie
CREW LEADER: Colby Baker-Thayer
Project Site Description & History
The story of the Custer Peak Lookout Tower is just one amongst many that make up the fabric of fire lookout tower history within the United States. The catalyst for the formalization of fire lookout towers and an improved forest fire reporting system was the Great Fire of 1910. Known as one of the deadliest wildfires in United States history, this fire burned nearly 3 million acres across the states of Washington, northern Idaho, and western Montana over the course of only two days. It’s even said that smoke from the fire could be seen as far as Washington D.C. This fire claimed 87 lives and destroyed many buildings and numerous towns.
As a result, the newly formed United States Forest Service worked to improved wildfire prevention and extinguishment strategies. Fire lookout towers were born from the tragedy that was the Great Fire of 1910, and while these structures fell into disrepair, preservation initiatives across the country have saved fire lookout towers from complete deterioration.
While preservation measures have been taken to maintain the structure seen today, the Custer Peak Fire Lookout as it stands right now is not the first iteration of the tower. The original construction consisted of a wood 12’x12′ room built in 1911. By 1935, the space was replaced with a cupola. Finally, in 1941, U.S Forest Service Architect William Ellis Groben constructed the 14’x14′ cab, catwalk, rock root cellar, and log outhouse that exist on the premises today. It’s important to note that the fire lookout tower was built using local natural materials to better integrate to the natural surroundings of the area. For years, Custer Peak and Black Elk Peak were connected by telephone line to enhance communication when fires were detected. The Custer Peak Fire Lookout Tower is considered eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, and was placed on the National Historic Lookout Register on Oct. 13, 1990.
HistoriCorps is honored to continue the preservation initiatives of groups such as Passport In Time, who repaired sections of the Custer Peak Fire Lookout Tower in 2008. We hope you’ll join us this season as we work to preserve a structure that has played an important role in wildfire management both today and in years past.
Location and Logistics
SESSION DATES: August 31 – September 5
Please plan to arrive at the campsite no earlier than 5pm and no later than 7pm on the first day of your session.
LOCATION: About 1 hour northwest of Mount Rushmore National Memorial!
MAP to CUSTER PEAK FIRE LOOKOUT
ACCESS: 
Tent campers, truck campers, campervans, trailers, and RVs up to 35′ will have access to our campsite, though no RV hookups are available. Dogs are allowed but must be leashed and kept under control at all times.
WEATHER: Anticipate highs in the 60s and lows in the 40s. Weather conditions may be rainy, cloudy, or sunny. Volunteers are responsible for checking weather conditions before their session begins, and packing appropriately.
ABOUT VOLUNTEERING: HistoriCorps projects are free for volunteers! HistoriCorps will provide all meals, tools, training, equipment, and a campsite. Volunteers are responsible for their own transportation to the campsite, sleeping equipment, work gloves, clothes and boots, and other personal gear.
Scope of Work
SCOPE OF WORK DIFFICULTY: 
HistoriCorps is committed to educating and training volunteers in preservation skills, with an overarching mission of inspiring a preservation ethic in all those involved. Learning and working alongside expert HistoriCorps field staff and other volunteers while applying the traditional skills necessary to restore the Custer Peak Fire Lookout, you will assist to:
- Repair and reinforce stair structure for enhanced safety
- Improve exterior through continued window repair
- Elevate the appearance of bare wood through priming, painting, and staining
- Improve the condition of the outhouse roof
- If time allows: seal & protect tower from further deterioration caused by rodents & augment the basement floor and walls through application of a finish
Please note: Tasks vary by day and by week, depending on a variety of factors including: weather, project priorities, previous groups’ work, and more. Though it is likely you will get to learn and practice most or all of the above tasks, it is not guaranteed. The higher percentage of the scope a particular task is, the more likely you will get to practice it.
Sign Up!
We’re thrilled this project has inspired you to volunteer!
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*All registrations submitted to projects at capacity will be automatically added to our waitlist.*
CANCELLATIONS effect our ability to complete projects. Please register only if you are certain about your ability to participate.
You will know your registration was successful when you receive a confirmation email. Contact volunteer@historicorps.org for assistance.
HistoriCorps does not charge for its volunteering projects. HistoriCorps relies on donations to continue engaging volunteers to save significant historical sites across America for generations to come. Your donation of any amount will make an incredible difference! Increase your impact – make a generous gift today.
Volunteer Logistics, Policies, and Advice
We’re so glad you’re interested in joining this project! If you’re new to our community, review the Volunteer FAQ first! Please note the following logistics and policies:
- Volunteering with HistoriCorps is free! We will provide all meals, tools, training, equipment, and a campsite or shared indoor lodging. Dinner is not provided on the first night.
- Volunteers are responsible for bringing their own gear, work gloves, sturdy work clothes and boots, and appropriate sleeping equipment. Check the average temperatures before you start packing – the nights and mornings may be colder than you anticipate! Then, read this advice about how to stay warm when tent camping in colder places.
- Campsite accessibility varies by project. Some projects can accommodate tents only; others can accommodate small RVs. Please review the project site description above for more information, and if you’re still not sure, email volunteer@historicorps.org for help.
- If this project does not offer showers, you might want to consider bringing a solar shower or research other methods to clean up after the work day.
- Volunteer crew sizes generally range from 4-8 volunteers, with two HistoriCorps staff that lead and train volunteers in the work.
- Safety is one of HistoriCorps’ top priorities, and volunteers can contribute to a safe working environment by ensuring their physical fitness is adequate for the work. See above for this project’s scope of work and difficulty level. Please, call us if you are not quite sure if a project is a good fit for your skills or fitness level. We may be able to suggest a project more suitable and enjoyable for you.
- Hard hats, eye protection, ear protection, gloves are standard personal protection equipment (PPE) required on all projects. Hard hats must be worn at all times on the project site, unless working in a designated safe space. Field staff will train volunteers on correct use of PPE.
- Dogs are generally allowed to accompany their humans in project campsites (actually, we love having dogs join us around the campfire!). Dogs are not permitted on the job site for everyone's safety. HOWEVER: HistoriCorps also follows the rules and regulations of our project partner. If the project partner does not permit dogs onsite then HistoriCorps is no exception. Please ask HistoriCorps or the project partner directly if you have any questions about whether Fido is welcome.