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View of D.C. Booth hatchery building and raceways in 1899, also called the Spearfish Station at that time. Credit: USFWS.
Early 1890, a bill introduced in the United States Senate by South Dakota Senator R.F. Pettigrew, appropriated $500 for investigating the possibility of placing a fish culture station in Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana or the Dakotas.
Dr. B.W. Evermann headed a detail to undertake investigation of water resources in the area. Several localities in South Dakota were examined for their suitability. Spearfish was finally chosen because of the relative abundance of pure, cold spring water available for a gravity system and its accessibility to the town and regions railroad system. These favorable reports led to an initial appropriation of $5,000 by Congress on June 11, 1896, to establish a fish culture station in the Black Hills at Spearfish, South Dakota.
Land purchased June 10, 1898, is at the entrance to Ames Canyon on the southern boundary of the City of Spearfish. J. H. Russell Construction Company of Spearfish bid $5,995 for the construction of the hatchery building and ice house. By July 1, 1899, the contractor had nearly completed his work and seventeen fish ponds were nearly ready to receive fish. Mr. D.C. Booth was appointed superintendent of the hatchery. The fish hatchery building and ice house were formally accepted by the government on July 25, 1899.
D.C. Booth in 1899, also called the Spearfish Station at that time. Credit: USFWS.
As completed, the hatchery building was 66 feet long by 30 feet wide, a frame structure built upon a stone foundation. It contained a hatching room, office, reception hall and boiler room on the first floor, with two bedrooms and closets on the second floor. The hatching room contained 48 hatching troughs fitted with trays and was able to handle two million trout eggs.
Raceways and ponds were constructed on the slope south of the hatchery building. Ponds 1-8 (constructed in 1899) were native pine on the sides with earth-filled bottoms. Ponds 9-12 (1900) were lined with cypress. Ponds 13-16 were merely excavated, having earth bottoms and sides. Ponds 18-20 were excavated with lime-stone walls. Ponds 21-24 (1913) were constructed of cement with earth bottoms. Other buildings included the ice house (capacity of 35 tons of ice), a one-story frame structure that had two rooms for employee quarters, a barn and an annex for the barn (including a workshop) and structures to cover hydraulic pumps.
The hatchery building and ponds were supplied by pure spring water rising on the reservation. The normal average temperature of the water was very favorable for egg incubation. The springs were located at a sufficient elevation to provide a gravity system for distribution, conducted through a nine-inch iron pipe provided with brass valves at each pond and hatching trough.
D.C. Booth hatchery building in 1899. Credit: USFWS.
Shortly after completion and lacking hatching trays and other equipment, a telegram was received from the Assistant Fish Commissioner in Washington, D.C., asking how soon the station would be ready to receive a shipment of trout eggs. The superintendent wired that the hatchery would be ready to receive eggs at any time. The hatchery crew set to work making hatchery trays, building supply troughs, installing faucets and turning on the spring water for the first shipment. By July 29, 1899, 100,000 trout eggs were in the process of incubation.
The hatchery site, located at the lower end of a mountain canyon, previously housed a saw mill that operated on the grounds with adjoining cook shacks, bunk houses, stables, blacksmith shop, lumber piles, refuse and sawdust that interfered with hatchery operations. Shortly after eggs were placed in the hatchery troughs in July 1899, a rain storm occurred, washing down tons of sawdust, horse manure, tin cans, rock, lumber, and other refuse. The refuse completely filled the spring reservoir supplying the hatchery building and depositing several inches of sediment in all the ponds and hatching troughs. After this experience, storm channels, bridges and bulkheads were constructed out of limestone rock and cement to prevent future flooding. Many are still in use today.
A residence for the Superintendent and his family was constructed in 1905. It is a two-story frame home with a stone basement, eight rooms and bath with hot water radiation heating.
In 1901, the Spearfish National Fish Hatchery began to operate an egg-gathering substation in Yellowstone National Park. Located on the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake, the substation was mainly responsible for the collection of black-spotted trout eggs and their subsequent shipment to Spearfish for hatching and later distribution to other areas.
Since direct railroad service did not exist between Spearfish and Yellowstone Lake, an overland expedition was undertaken each year to gather the eggs and return them to Spearfish. The expedition usually left Spearfish in June, traveling by rail as far as possible. The last portion of the journey was made by wagon, with the wagons piled high with boats, nets, troughs, and other equipment. The annual Yellowstone expeditions were conducted from 1901-1911. At that time the hatchery at Bozeman, Montana, assumed responsibility for the Yellowstone egg-gathering and hatching operations.
Originally established as a subsidiary hatchery to Leadville, Colorado, the Spearfish National Fish Hatchery later became headquarters for federal fisheries operations in the Western United States, correlating activities at a number of other hatchery stations scattered through the West.
By the 1940s, the water supply at Spearfish had become increasingly undependable. This resulted in the acquisition of land 12 miles west of Spearfish from Judge McNenny and the State of South Dakota to rear fish. In 1949, a new hatchery was constructed and named the McNenny National Fish Hatchery. Between the McNenny and Spearfish National Fish Hatcheries, nearly one million fish were produced annually. The Spearfish center became a training academy for fish culture courses and a center for fish nutrition or diet development.
Ranch ARanch A, in Sand Creek Canyon, Wyoming, was acquired by the federal government in 1963 for development as a Fish Genetics Laboratory, a satellite operation of the Service's fish cultural research facility at Leetown, West Virginia. After transfer of the Genetics Lab to Leetown in 1979, Ranch A became part of the Spearfish Fisheries Center Complex and the new home of the Diet Development Center, previously housed at McNenny.
During severe budget constraints in the early 1980s, McNenny NFH was transferred to the State of South Dakota and the Spearfish hatchery was closed. Ranch A ceased operations in 1986. Although not in operation, the FWS retained ownership of Ranch A and the Spearfish hatchery. The City of Spearfish requested permission to operate the hatchery under an agreement with the FWS. Operations of the hatchery began again in 1984 with the City renaming the hatchery after its first superintendent D.C. Booth.
In 1989, Congress appropriated funding for construction of a state of the art museum property storage building, public restrooms, concession and underwater viewing area at D.C. Booth with the Fish and Wildlife Service resuming operations of the facility with a new mission to "assemble, preserve, protect, make accessible to researchers, and interpret the history and technology of fish culture". The Ranch A facility was transferred to the State of Wyoming in 1997 along with historic furniture and artifacts original to the site.
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D.C. Booth Museum. Credit: USFWS.
The Von Bayer Museum of Fish Culture was created to preserve the vibrant history and rich heritage of the American fisheries workers. We collect and preserve the historic objects from hatcheries throughout the country making them accessible to researchers and the public. In addition to collecting artifacts, we interpret the history and technology of fish culture so as to enrich the experience of the greater community. By utilizing the museum collection, we hope to increase the awareness of the various roles and the inestimable value of fish culture and fisheries in every day life. This includes the contributions of fish culture to the recreational and social wellbeing of the people of the United States and the world.
The museum facility is made up of the historic 1899 Hatchery Building housing the museum, and the 10,000 square foot Collection Management Facility (CMF). The CMF includes a 5,000 square foot storage area, conservation lab, accession and receiving area, and Fish and Wildlife Service Offices. These buildings provide for the use and preservation of the museum collections for future generations to enjoy and study.
The museum collection includes fish management and culture items and equipment, periodicals, publications and personal artifacts. Research facilities are open by appointment.
Contact DCBooth@fws.gov for information about possible internships available at the museum.
The Museum maintains a Want List of historic material needed for the museum collection. Gifts to the Fish and Wildlife Service are tax deductible as charitable contributions. For more information, please call 605-642-7730.
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D.C. Booth Partnerships (Photos clockwise from top left) Stocking fish for South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, Statue at DC Booth, Youth helping out at the hatchery. Credit: USFWS.
A unique five-way partnership at the D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery and Archives is living proof of the old adage "many hands make light work". Our partnerships are highly valuable to us and enable us to better our services to the visiting public.
In addition to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, our partners include:
- City of Spearfish
- The Booth Society, Inc.
- South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks
- American Fisheries Society - Fish Culture Section
City of Spearfish
The City assists with public use functions in allowing an entrance kiosk on city park property, allowing visitor parking in an adjacent parking lot, parking lot maintenance, provide law enforcement and fire protection. They provide campground sites with full hookups to our seasonal volunteers. The City administers a portion of its hospitality tax revenue through the Booth Society to promote, market and provide visitor services at the hatchery.
Booth Society, Inc.
The Booth Society, our non-profit citizen based friends group, manages the gift shop, concession, public restrooms and information center. Funds from the gift shop are reinvested into site improvements. The Booth Society is instrumental in organizing special events, help with utility costs for some of the facilities on site, and management of a large summer volunteer staff. For younger visitors they provide educational outreach at the local school systems, developed a youth volunteer program and scavenger hunt. The Booth Society takes volunteer applications year round. Contact the Booth Society at the hatchery.
South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks – McNenny State Fish Hatchery
McNenny State Fish Hatchery utilizes our ponds and raceways for rearing fish for public benefit and fish conservation purposes. They coordinate fish production with the D.C. Booth personnel, are responsible for pond stocking, feeding fish, cleaning ponds, monitors pollution and compliance with appropriate laws & regulations, and maintains permits associated with discharges from the facility.
American Fisheries Society - Fish Culture Section
The American Fisheries Society , Fish Culture Section’s Hall of Fame is located in a replica ice house on site. The Fish Culture Hall of Fame honors persons making technological advances in fish culture. Location at the hatchery is due to the hatchery's history, large collection of fish culture artifacts and location of the hatchery in a popular tourist area. Exhibits and information about inductees are displayed. Nominations to the Fish Culture Hall of Fame must be submitted by March.
In, addition, many local volunteer citizens, civic groups, and school groups are actively involved with the hatchery's operations, education, and outreach. These dedicated partners and volunteers keep the treasured D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery available to you, your family, and future generations.
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Fish Culture Hall of Fame Nominations: (Photos clockwise from left) Fish Culture Hall of Fame located in a replica 1899 Ice House, Fishcar and Ice House entrance, Hall of Fame brick walkway. Credit: USFWS.
Fish Culture Hall of Fame Nomination Criteria
Established in 1985 by the Fish Culture Section of the American Fisheries Society, the Hall of Fame (HOF) honors persons who have made significant contributions to the advancement of fish culture. The Hall of Fame is located in a replica 1899 Ice House located at the D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery in Spearfish, South Dakota.
Objectives of the Hall of Fame:
- To recognize fish culturists and others who have contributed in an outstanding or significant manner to the advancement of fish culture.
- To provide a permanent site where mementos and contributions of those honored can be viewed by fish culturists, workers and the general public.
- Emphasize to persons interested in fishery resources and fish culture the accomplishment, dedication, and principles of those honored and associated with the Hall of Fame.
- Promote the art and science of fish culture and related activities.
Selection Process & Criteria:
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Individuals selected for the Hall of Fame must have made significant contributions to the science and technology of fish culture. Contributions can be in the areas of cultural research, development of methods and equipment, administration and/or promotion of cultural programs, or in related fields such as nutrition, disease control, water quality, bioengineering, education, etc.
- Living Persons - Minimum 55 years of age; minimum of 25 years of service to fish culture or aquaculture; significant accomplishments in fish culture or aquaculture.
- Deceased Persons - Deceased for at least one year; minimum of 25 years service to fish culture or aquaculture; significant accomplishments in fish culture or aquaculture.
Wesley Orr is presented with a plaque bearing his name and summarizing the work he did to improve the art and science of fish culture by revolutionizing rainbow trout broodstock, husbandry, and production. Wes Orr is on the left; Jim Boker is on the right. His plaque has joined others at the American Fisheries Society Fish Culture Section Hall of Fame located at DC Booth HNFH. Orr and Gary Wedemeyer were the 2013 inductees; the plaque was presented at a ceremony in May 2013 at DC Booth by Jim Boker, the Fish Culture Section president.
Nominee System:
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Nominations may be submitted at any time by letter of nomination or a biographical sketch and description of accomplishments.
- Nominations received by the Hall of Fame coordinator will be kept on file and reviewed by the Hall of Fame Committee during the spring of each year (by majority vote) and will recommend approved nominations for vote by the membership.
- Approved nominations are sent to the membership for election (must be approved by 2/3 of all persons voting) with results presented at the Annual Meeting.
Nominees approved will be inducted into the Hall of Fame the following spring during the month of May.
- For additional information contact the Fish Culture Hall of Fame Coordinator.
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The Junior Duck Stamp Program is an annual art contest that provides students with the opportunity to learn about biology and express their knowledge of the beauty, diversity, and interdependence of wildlife through art.
The Junior Duck Stamp Contest, partnered with a dynamic arts curriculum, teaches wetlands and waterfowl conservation to students in kindergarten through high school.
Since the Junior Duck Stamp Contest was introduced in South Dakota in 1993, over 10,000 students have submitted artwork in the state. In 2013, over 800 South Dakota students participated in the program; and throughout the United States, over 27,000 students submitted artwork to a state contest.
Annual revenue from the sales of Junior Duck Stamps raises an estimated $200,000 annually to fund scholarships, support the contest, and create environmental education opportunities for students who participate in the program.
For more information about the South Dakota contest, please see visit: http://www.sdjuniorduck.org
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D.C. Booth Public Information (Photos clockwise from left) Kids school visit to DC Booth, Kids Fishing derby catch, Young girl observes fish at underground viewing area. Credit: USFWS.
D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery and Archives provides many exciting visitor opportunities, as well as gives back to the local communities. Open to the public, D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery and Archives welcomes visitors to the historic hatchery and museum for an educational closeup view of the fish production process.
With over 145,000 visitors annually, the dedicated staff and volunteer hosts at the Visitor Center and Museum bring the hatchery experience alive with educational hatchery and museum tours and exhibits. Educational programs/tours are provided for the public and school groups during business hours. The hatchery has also worked closely with the Spearfish school system to develop an on-sight curriculum for all teachers K-5th grade.
Some of the many exciting recreational, cultural, and educational opportunities are:
- Museum tours
- Underwater fish viewing
- Fish feeding
- Fish ponds Hiking trail
- Picnic/playground area
- Birdwatching
- Photography
- Hiking/nature trails
- Fish Culture Hall of Fame
- National Fishery Artifacts and Records Center
- Special events
- Gift shop
- Fishing in Spearfish Creek
- Replica Fish Car Exhibit
- Yellowstone Boat
Come join the hatchery staff and volunteers for year-round festivities and celebrations! D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery and Archives hosts an array of public events, including:
- December Holiday Celebration
- Spearfish Holiday Enchantment
- National Fish Culture Hall of Fame
- Induction Ceremonies
- D.C. Booth Day
- National Fishing Week
- Family Creek Fair
- National Wildlife Refuge Week
