High above the Black Hills, surrounded by ponderosa pine forests, meandering trout streams and mountain meadows, is Lead (LEED). The town was founded during the great gold rush of 1876 and sustained by one of the richest veins ever unearthed. George Hearst, father of noted publisher William Randolph Hearst, amassed his fortune through his initial investment in the Homestake Mining Co. Today Lead is a destination for outdoor enthusiasts, history buffs and vacationers. Learn More...