Jewel Cave National Monument

Jewel Cave National Monument contains Jewel Cave, currently the third longest cave in the world, with over 215 miles of mapped passageways. Jewel Cave is a "breathing cave," which means air enters or exits the cave with changes in atmospheric pressure from day to night or due to changes in the weather. Unlike many other caves, Jewel Cave was not carved by underground rivers. Most of the cave was formed by slowly circulating, acid-rich groundwater. Guided cave tours are available.

Hours of operation: Monday through Sunday 8:00 am to 5:30 pm. Closed New Years Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Snow and severe weather can limit access to some remote parts of the park, especially in winter. For current road and trail conditions call the visitor center at (605) 673-8300. Check road conditions on your route before traveling to the park.
Plenty of free parking.

Machine 2: (2024):
1) 'Junior Park Ranger Jewel Cave', patch,
2) 'Jewel Cave National Monument', Bat,
3) 'Jewel Cave National Monument, Nailhead Spar', mineral
4) 'Jewel Cave National Monument', Tree.

Prepressed penny is available in the gift shop. (An attended machine at Wind Cave National Monument that has no public access presses this design). Cost to purchase: 99¢ each design. Design has a beaded border:
1. (V) Stalactites with 'Jewel Cave National Monument'.
Reverse: 'Black Hills Parks & Forests Association'.

1" mini-tokens are in the gift shop at the cash register. Cost: 99¢ each.
1) Front: Lantern with 'Jewel Cave National Monument Est. 1908'/ Rear- Man walking in cave wearing a headlamp shining the way with 'Jewel Cave National Monument Custer, SD'.
2) Front: Harney Peak with 'Harney Tower Elev. 7,242 Black Elk Wilderness'/ Rear- U.S. Forest Service emblem with 'Black Hills National Forest Est. 1897'.

G.P.S. coordinates: Latitude: 43° 43' 47.571" Longitude: -103° 49' 46.0272'
Google Maps coordinates: P5HC+W7 Custer, South Dakota

Retired design: was with an information card:
1. (V) Stalactites with 'Jewel Cave National Monument'.
Reverse: 'Black Hills Parks & Forests Association'.

May 26, 2023. I dug through the pile of pennies until I found one that was not pressed on a zinc penny. I purchased a second penny, for display of the rear, that was pressed on a zinc penny. The penny machine is rolling a well centered excellent image on 95% copper pre-1982 pennies and post 1982 pennies. The tokens are of great quality. MWHTH

08/06/2026: Machine 2 is now fitted with a card reader, which each penny costing $1 or $4 for all four (card scan automatically charges you for the full four while individual $1 singles can be fed for individual designs). Machine now pre-loaded with copper rounds and they look beautiful.