<P> The Black Hills Gold Rush took place in Dakota Territory in the United States . It began in 1874 following the Custer Expedition and reached a peak in 1876 - 77 . </P> <P> Rumors and poorly documented reports of gold in the Black Hills go back to the early 19th century . In the 1860s, Roman Catholic missionary Father De Smet is reported to have seen Sioux Indians carrying gold which they told him came from the Black Hills . </P>

When was gold discovered in the black hills