Reviews of D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery & Archives (Museum)

Denise Fletchall

My husband Todd and I enjoyed our winter's afternoon walk through the fish hatchery. The snow was beautiful on creek banks as we watched the trout swim. I have terminal cancer & my husband is a disabled Desert Storm War Veteran and this is the place where we come to relax & find peace within our hearts.

Luke Rose

A great place to visit a lot of historical artifacts and lots of fun feeding the fish

Angela Pitzer

Wonderful stop in Spearfish SD! Awesome history told by wonderful staff. A definite must when you're in the area.

Michael Pombo

Nice park great fishing

Kelsey Stephens

Great free activity for the whole family.

Trent Hunter

Awesome place to see all sizes of trout! Plus they have viewing windows.

Clara Hanson

Beautiful family place. Very nice play area and much more for the kids to see and do.

Jim C.

One of my favorite places to visit in the area. Beautiful well maintained grounds and facilities. Wonderful staff.

Thais Johnson

Love watching the fish under the water. Such a beautiful area

Kraig Selken

Lots of history. Fun feeding fish and a great playground for the kids next to it

Greg C

Great place to take kids especially since its located right next to the playground at Spearfish city park. They have an underground fish viewing room and some short but scenic trails to hike on. Check it out.

Andy Schwen

Interesting place to visit!

HerbnKathyRV

Volunteering here summer of 19, great place free to visit and learn about the national fish hatchery system

Robert Peeples

A great place to visit. Lots of history. A lot of fun feeding the fish. The fish viewing window was really cool.

Linda McSweeney

A must stop in Spearfish! So interesting. Who knew there were fish trains? Bonus: it’s free and dog friendly!

Charlie Senn

The cool part about this fish hatchery is the lower viewing area with this glass wall.

Michael Nickisch

What an amazing gem. Museums. Home tours. Gift shop. Fish feeding. Information. Next to huge park and campground. Beaitiful!!!! And free!!!!

Jesse Hendricks

Very cool hatchery!

Jodi Moss

Felt the staff was friendly. competent. And full of knowledge. Fish were cool as always

Bryant De

So Calm. Serene. Beautiful. Rainbow Trout as far as you can see...

Kayla C

This is an excellent place to spend time with family, or relax by yourself. Feeding the fish is a lot of fun and not expensive. The grounds are beautiful, clean, and well maintained. During the summer season you can visit the museum and other interesting and educational exhibits for free. Definitely worth a stop when you're in Spearfish.

Carter Hout

Cool, highly recommend

Suzanne Miesen

Love feeding the fish at the hatchery!

charisse gross

Take my daughter there to feed the fish every time we go

Yvette Alford

My grandson loves this place!

James Anderson

Super awesome history with excellent volunteers. I loved feeding the fish.

frickstation Alpha

Perfect spot to take the kids in the summer, and you can't beat free

Jason Buss

Fun excursion to feed the fish

Shannon Parrish

Such a fun place for famlies

Gloria Matthews

Fabulous! the hisorical presentation displays The foresight of those that began the fish hatcheries across the nation. We should all be grateful for their vision and passion.

Caleb Rose

Incredible free spot for familys. Be respectful and wach your children, places like this are only cool untill someone ruins it.

Eric Schwingler

Fun place to visit

375lover

Was very disappointed, only half ponds even had water, underwater viewing window was so dirty could not see fish.

Chelsea Moore

Very peaceful place. A lot of space to explore and roam around, everything has been kept up really well, staff was very friendly, and it's fun to feed the fish! There is also a very cool viewing area where you can watch the fish underground. There are some real monsters in that pond!

Paul Schell

Awesome place to visit. Great place to take kids. Took some amazing pics.

Nick Mueller

Great place to stop in Spearfish! Admission is free and the museums are very interesting. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable. We really enjoyed feeding the fish!

Zeke Domowski

Great place to walk around and feed the fish. You can buy a handful of fish food for a quarter or get a brown bag inside for a dollar. There is also a museum with archives from around the states that changes put each year!

Tech Seat

Nice place.

Rochelle Sydnor Kahl

Always fun place to visit. My Dad and my kids LOVE watching the fish. Staff has always been friendly and nice family hiking and incredible park near the hatchery.

Mallory Kling

Fun family-friendly stop in Spearfish! Bring quarters so you can feed the fish!

Elizabeth Peckham

It's a great place to go visit and the kids love feeding the fish ❤️❤️❤️

Rita Nauman

Very nice. The fish are fun to watch

slade herman

Good family fun. Feed and learn about the local fish and the historic fish hatchery! While we were there they had a scavenger hunt in the museum for my daughter, after she finished she god some free food for the fish!

Lisa Arias

Don't miss the tours of the house and train car.

John Eaton

wow, why there are trout in South Dakota,outstanding displays, kept running into old Friends...what a treat, yes go and see it

Tom Troxel

You got to go for yourself really cool!

Jennifer Haiar

Our family visits the fish hatchery everytime we make it to Spearfish. The kids love feeding the fish. Very beautiful setting!

Barbara Acheson

Excellent! Educational and interesting.

Peg Wastell

Wonderful free stop perfect for family or anyone. Notice beautiful creek and park next to it. Can see fish through glass close up. Get to feed fish.

Kevin Buehler

Absolutely a great place to take kids. It is fun to see all the fish and history. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable.

Courtney Haacke

Such a fun place. Free!!! Must see!

stetson pahdocony

One of the best attractions in the Black Hills

Bruce Hahn

Must stop in Spearfish. Underground window to watch huge fish do there thing. Greatest little gift shop in the world, at (wow) reasonable prices. If you have kids, buy fish food for 2$. All ages will love it!

Kim Canetti

Well kept fishery, fun feeding the fish there food....nice place to have a picnic...

Marlaina Anderson

Beautiful and friendly employees

Sonya Kelii

Such a nice, serene place to visit with family.

Rett the space boy

I've been going here since I was a kid, its a nice place to bring kids since they like to feed the fish and there's a park right next to the place. The museum is also quite nice. Overall its an enjoyable place to spend part of your day.

Ronney Piester

Very informative and the trout are very cool. Kids had fun feeding them. Add an aquarium and it would be easy 5 stars

Obadiah Donnell

A must see if you've never been, it's pretty interesting

Doug Crane

Very cool spot and worth a stop.

Molly B

Great to go for a stroll, with kids, a lone or in a group. Check out the fish, ducks, greenery. There is a viewing deck. You can buy fish food from the dispensary or in the gift shop. Museum and railroad car add historic info. There is a small trail as well. Fun free option..or very low cost attraction if you buy the food or donate.

Josh Hare

Fantastic place that needs to continue to be sponsored and ran in order to share history of our Country.

Tracey Cohn

What a Hidden Gem. We just stumbled upon it. It is free and worth the stop!!

Susan Q

Great place to learn about the fish hatchery business and it's pivotal role in the development of the fishing industry and tourism since the late 1800s. The replica hatchery rail car is especially evocative . Free and the kids can feed the trout and watch them swimming from the huge glass observation windows.

Tina Pfeifer

Kids love to walk around and feed the fish. Scenery is beautiful especially if you come in the fall

Julie Anderson

We've been here numerous times and finally went thru the museum, up above to the mort pit, water reservoir & lookout area and toured the replica train car #3 for the first time. We will be back to see the rest soon. We only live an hour away In rapid city and am excited to explore our backyard as soon as it quits snowing, maybe by July!!

Jane Williams

Very nice display!

Linda Kay Glazier Henning

I have been here many times and have always enjoyed it....

Tandee Cook

Would have been a Great Experience for my family if it was not closed down due to the current Government shutdown. How very Sad that our Government officials need to be so Greedy and difficult.

Nick Bell

Just about the best stop on our trip from NY to Seattle but then again I love trout. Especially in brown butter

Elizabeth Smith

Great visit to the fishery. The guided tour of the property was outstanding. Love that they have volunteers to do this, no tax money spent, but still a quality tour.

HOWARD Willoughby

Great piece of history

Ted Driver

Half-planning on stopping here, we're glad we did. An amazing property and so many ponds of fish! Several species of trout from the area are here and can be fed ($1 or $2 bags of food). The docents in the several museums and outdoor exhibits are friendly and knowledgeable and led great tours for us. Well worth the stop!

becky Higgins

Nice place to sight see , live trout in water, aquarium inside of center, beautiful stream, by a park, with picnic tables ,

B Humbracht

Fun place with the kids.

Jenny B

Love feeding the fish here. Great for the kids. This place is a staple for spearfish. The town needs to make sure this stays open no matter what.

Necia Kushman

I am a local and I love visiting the fish hatchery! It is fun to feed the trout, some are just huge. There is alot to see and do here. Make sure you walk around an enjoy the history.

Goldie Hettinga

Great, helpful local staff. Comprehensive and interesting information. Really enjoyed the experience. Great free place to visit. Well worth the time. Adjacent to the City Park which is, as almost everything in Spearfish, tidy and well cared for! A gem!

David Welch II

Great place with lots of history

Joseph Parsons

This place is amazing, highly recommend coming here.

Nathan Peters

Our kids really enjoyed this attraction. They would have spent all day if they could of, feeding the fish. It's a free attraction. There is a very small parking lot. However there is a larger parking lot across the street. The gift shop has a very reasonably priced fish food per bag for feeding the fish. My wife and I enjoyed the residence which is a museum. But we like holder houses as well. Again, I would highly recommend this place has an attraction for the Black Hills.

Nick Gale

Great history here & beautiful location.

Mary Hubbard/Kretschmar

This place is so cool really educational peaceful really cool to look at all the old buildings and the fish! I have a great time here Everytime I go.

Elisha Burton

It's a wonderful place

Dennis Johnston

A must see for youngsters. A lot of fish and birds to see. Young and old enjoy feeding the fish and ducks. A tip....purchase fish food in the souvenir shop, it is not as spendy as the vending machines.

Liz Singer

What a beautiful spot in the Black Hills & for the town of Spearfish. Very pet friendly & easy walking for everyone. Love the quite surroundings & nature.

J Law

Great stop. Kids loved walking around. Nice piece of history.

Jason Currie-Olson

Man this is a cool place in such an unexpected area. Nestled in the BEAUTIFUL confines of Spearfish Campground, this fish hatchery is a gorgeous place to visit and learn about the wildlife and fish of the Spearfish area. Well maintained and easy to access, the combination of this gem and incredible Spearfish Park make for an easy day spent.

Jason Scallen

Great place to see wild life and relax. Ease to get to.

Emma Marsh

It is a pretty place and the fish are so cool to watch and there is cool places like a ship and a train kids can look at and the train lets kids go inside and look around, you can buy cool things at the shop there and see cute little baby fish grow!!!

Gaige Mortenson

Nice place to take kids. The kids can feed and look at fish plus a park is conveniently right next to the hatchery.

Mike Peterson

Great place to visit and wonderful place to take kids/grandkids

Alexandra Adams

Very informative and beautiful grounds!!

Colette Manning

I was hesitant to visit the Fish Hatchery on our vacation, but it was fantastic and our kids absolutely loved feeding the fish. The property is big enough for kiddos to run around and burn some energy, but not so big to get lost or turned around. There are several ponds, racewyas and undergeound viewing. There are also some short trails to explore and historical exhibits. Don't spend the quarters on the first bridge for Fish Food, go inside and buy the food by the bag. #Protip, have your kiddos do the scavenger hunt in the museum and they'll be able to turn their sheets in for a small cup of food for free. Additionally, the Hatchery is next door to a wonderful kids park/playground and is a great spot for a picnic lunch.

tim odson

Great place for kids and adults.

Darren Scott

Love the hatchery! Beautiful and lots of fish to see.

Chuck West

Well done exhibits, grounds are kept clean. Incredible place to spend some time soaking up a little history. Everyone loves to feed the fish. Open year round!

Shari Wisen

Its such a cool place. We come every time we're in Spearfish. Kids love it.

Alecsandra Bihlmaier

This is one of the oldest fish hatcheries in the US. It has an educational atmosphere but a great place to see the growing of perch. There is an underground viewing area.

Alex Mackey

I never would've imagined a fish hatchery being a fun destination, but it was! This is a Spearfish and South Dakota gem. It's fun to look at all the fish, and the historical train car is interesting to walk through. What really makes this destination stand out is the volunteer docents, who are very knowledgeable, friendly, and happy to talk. Swing through on the way to Spearfish Canyon - it will totally be worth a stop (especially on a beautiful day).

Lila Smith

Off the beaten path fun family stop

Lynette Oerther

Wonderul, free, historic attraction.

Chuck Bell

We arrived at 4pm. Git a quick tour. It was very nice but had to rush to finish. No cost donation!

DeDe Moser

We always have a great time every time we visit the hatchery!

tracy cwiklinski

Nice place to walk and fun trails

Sharon Hampton

Fantastic piece of history.

Aaron Ketcher

Very interesting historical place

Tiffany White

Fun for families and free

Doug Evans

Before all of the states got their own fish and game departments, there once existed federal fish hatcheries. One has been preserved here, along with restored special train cars to transport fish, and housing for the employees. This is seriously worth the time to visit. It preserves, in a low key way, an interesting view of a time now passed. Won't take more than a day to take it in and if you're rushed then just an afternoon. You'll be glad you did.

Cindy Michelson

Kids had a blast feeding the fish.

kellee carroll

We love the fish hatchery. It's not just fish either. They have a museum and the DC Booth house with tours. It's right next to the park so there is something for everyone.

Marcella Hutton

Favorite hang out! Kid friendly! Handicap accessible and the terrain is suitable for all ages. "Fish are friends not food"

Matt Galas

A great surprise! We stopped here not thinking much of it and we had a great time. Really neat little place. Make sure to bring the kids back to the museum to get a little free fish food!

Kimberly Drager

Well worth our time. Our boys ( ages 10, 12 and 14) live to fish and this was a hit with them.

Chris R

Nice little area and well maintained. My kiddos loved feeding the fish. Food cups were 1-2 dollars. Free ones available if you complete their scavenger hunt or find coupons.

Allison Alden

Excellent place to come visit. Free admission, bags of fish food are only $1-$2 in the gift shop. Fun to feed the fish, lots of cool spots for pictures. Make sure to visit the park right next door and go wading in the creek.

K W

Love the fish hatchery my kids always have so much fun seeing the fish. Never gets old

Bruce Dirks

Awesome place to see

Kim Mitzel

Awesome gorgeous place must ser

Cathy Grimm

Great place to visit if you're in the area. They give history lessons, interesting museum on site, beautiful views and so much to learn!

Cherish Jordan

Absolutely amazing!! Be sure to walk all the trails for some amazing views.

Luna Moon

Fabulous historic landmark!

Ed Sullivan

Very well restored hatchery still working. The boat used to gather the trout at Yellowstone and a restored train car used to transport the fish is also on display

Spearfish,SD Local

Lots of history hete, always enjoy going here

Me Fitz

Great experience for the entire family. Proud to call it a part of my city and its history.

Andrew Bears

Great place to go to see lots of fish.

Jory Lloyd

Great and free place to visit. Very relaxing setting with mature trees and gently rolling hills. Many educational and informative displays throughout, or just hang out and watch the enormous trout swimming around.

LaShawna Simonsen

This was a blast. Make sure to go into the gift shop for your bag of fish food. What problem solving!

Steven Price

This is a very well preserved historical site worth the trip. Their docents will help you understand how rainbow trout were introduced to the streams and lakes of South Dakota.

Allen Birkholz

This is really an interesting place, even if you're not particularly interested in fish. There are a couple ponds with the really big trout that you can feed. I recommend going to the gift shop for a $1 or $2 size bag (no tax) over the quarter vending machines. There are a number of historical displays about how hatcheries came to be and how the early days of stocking lakes and rivers worked as well as the lives of the staff in the early years. There is even some limited nature walking. Reasonable pets are permitted in most outdoor areas. There is a nice city park next to the hatchery. Admission is free but access is seasonal.

Heidi Abata

Amazing...huge rainbow trout... alot if history definately bring kids to feed the fish...

Max Smart

Nice folks. Big fish!

Francie Fletchall

My husband Todd and I had an amazing time here. He is wheelchair bound Desert Storm War Veteran but, we had NO problems with acess to anything. Such a relaxing place to visit. Its a MUST stop & visit place.

Kristi Eldridge

Educational place to take kids. They love to feed the fish.

Melissa Gaines

Wonderful place to be... bring quarters to feed the fish it's fun to watch :-) the area is pretty well taken care of and although we haven't been there during operating hours we always enjoy it with kids ranging from 10 to 17... And relatives in their 50s ;-) nice picnic area, bathrooms, and playground in the same vicinity!

Les Gunnink

Like the historical aspect huge salmon were great .trails were ok

Jamie Rodgers

Nice park for the kids and the fish hatchery was fun for the entire family.

Steve Stancer

Great stop off the highway.

Steven Marchfield

History and nature in one package

Darlene Murphy

This is an amazing place. It was so fun to see all the different trout they have. You can pay for food to feed the fish. Be sure to go down the stairs to see the fish underneath the water. There was a museum there, but unfortunately we didn't have time for. This place is definitely worth a visit.

Amy Hook

Love taking my kids here. A fun, free thing to do in a beautiful area.

Jack Batson

Nice place to stop in Spearfish. No fishing ploes allowed:(

Ariel Smith

Absolutely awesome.

Dj Sharff

best place to take the kids out to

Kimberly Sloop

This is a super fun, cool, and relaxing place to go! If you have children or are in town on vacation, like my family and I are, this is the stop of the town. You WILL see fish and you can feed them too! They have a little house museum, a preserved boat, and even a little gift shop. The staff members were nice and helpful and there’s even an “underground” area where you can see the fish inside of their little pond. Great FREE way to kill an hour if you want something to do! Awesome experience, 10/10 would recommend!

Linda Napoli

Good food, great service. Friendly staff.

Kent Berndt

Free awesome family fun

charles cleveland

The fish hatchery is a great stop for those visiting Spearfish. Free to go in and walk around. You can feed the huge trout they have with bag food. They charge you a dollar for small bag and two for big one. As you see the history of how they raised the fish and moved them for place to place. Has good parking near the park.

Kendel Hofer

The kids thought this was pretty fun.

Lindsey Klinck

I love the natural beauty here.

George Patrin

Fascinating details of hatching trout and delivering them all over the country. Too bad the aquarium observation windows were so overgrown with algae we couldn't see the fish underwater.

Steve Stefanovich

Beautiful place to spend some time!

Karen F

Enjoyed the step back in time and the trout!

William Bracken

Very interesting place to see. Loved and wished I could fish here. One fish would easily make a meal. When the transplant them in the outlying streams would love to know when and where.

dexron

Love taking the kiddo's there great place to just walk around and hang out together

Jim Simbeck

Great family attraction. Interesting and educational many old fashioned fish hauling apparatuses

Kathy Baldwin

This place is phenomenon! Great for kids too!

Tressa Jagemann

This is a very family friendly place to visit. You can feed the fish and look at the many different houses that were on this property from a long time ago. The history you read about it interesting, as well. There is some hills to walk up but many stopping points along the way. The park across the river is a great place for kids to burn some energy and stretch their legs. Over all a truly fun place to get out and enjoy the beauty of this area.