About Landstrom's® Original Black Hills Gold Creations

1874 South Dakota Gold Rush
Horatio N. Ross, a scout for General George Armstrong Custer, discovered gold along French Creek in the central Black Hills.

1876
Inspiration for the Black Hills Gold grape and leaf designs in three colors of gold is credited to a prospector/goldsmith named Henri LeBeau. These designs probably began in the mining towns of California during its Gold Rush days in 1849 and worked their way through the mining camps in Nevada, Idaho, Montana and Colorado. Henri LeBeau brought these designs from Montana to South Dakota in 1876, when he opened up a shop in Central City.

Central City and Deadwood grew out of the Wild West era of prospectors, saloons and legendary figures like Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane.

1878
Henri LeBeau trains S.T. Butler, who starts a jewelry manufacturing store and produced Black Hills Gold jewelry with his son, George M. Butler in Deadwood.

1900's
Clarence Thorpe, nephew of George - grandson to S.T. Butler, takes over business.

1919
Clarence Thrope sells his business to his brother, Frank Thorpe. Frank forms a partnership with Ed. "E.O." Lampinen under the name F.L. Thorpe Company. Frank and Ed dissolve their partnership and divide the original molds and dies between them. Frank continues F.L. Thorpe Co. Ed buys George Butler's tools and equipment and founds the Black Hills Jewelry Manufacturing Company.

1944
Ivan Landstrom buys Black Hills Jewelry Manufacturing Company from Lampinen and moves to Rapid City. Lampinen stays on staff to train employees in the traditional methods of creating Black Hills Gold Jewelry.

1981
Black Hills Gold jewelry features grape leaves, clusters and vines in tri-colored gold. By Federal mandate, this style of jewelry must be manufactured in the Black Hills of South Dakota in order to be described as "Black Hills Gold Jewelry".

1995
Landstrom's bought the F.L. Thorpe Company of Deadwood making Landstrom's the sole owner of all the original Black Hills Gold designs.

2006
Landstrom's passes on to Constance Landstrom Drew's daughter and son. Landstrom's continues to be dedicated to handcraftsmanship and to maintaining the highest standards in the Black Hills Gold industry.

Black Hills Gold Legend

Black Hills Gold Legend

According to legend, the Black Hills Gold design was created by French goldsmith, Henri Lebeau. Many years ago, the young Frenchman designed and made jewelry in Paris. After he perfected his method, he came to America. During the 1870's Gold Rush, he decided to go to California and make his fortune.

When he reached the rugged Black Hills of South Dakota, he became lost. He wandered for days without food and water. Lebeau fell asleep and had a dream of a mountain stream with grapevines growing on the banks.

Upon awakening, he walked over a rise and found the stream and grapevines just as he had dreamed and out of gratitude, he dedicated his life and talents to creating jewelry in the shapes of grape clusters and leaves fashioned in rose, green and yellow gold.

The Legend also has it that good luck comes to all who wear Black Hills Gold Jewelry!