ACTIVITIES

Join an interactive Ancestry and Family History activity with display boards and maps where you can help fill in your spot on the family tree, show where you live, add photos, key dates, age, occupation and interests. Everyone is part of the family tree, and encouraged to participate whether a direct descendant, related marriage, or otherwise. Bring historic photos to share and copy.

The old Eixenberger homestead is located near Belltower, MT. Family lore tells of Peter Eixenberger traveling through this area after the Battle of Little Bighorn and narrowly escaping death from an Indian's arrow. Peter and his son Frank later homesteaded the property, including building homes, a church and cemetery. It is also the location where Peter died and gravesites of others. 

St. Aloysius Cemetery in Sturgis is the location of the gravesites for Peter and Mary Eixenberger. The gravesites of their infant son (Henry) and two additional children (Peter Jr. and Gladys) who died of the 1918 flu epidemic are nearby.  Other descendants and members of the Eixenberger family are buried in the cemetery. Visit on your own or join others if interested. 

 Separate of the reunion, some family members are planning to attend the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Little Bighorn in southeastern Montana. The battlefield site is a National Monument within the Crow Indian Reservation and is considered to be a sacred place by all. If attending, please be respectful of both Indigenous and western communities, cultures, history, and all battle descendants. 

Dating back to 1887, Custer State Park is South Dakota's first and largest State Park. The park provides exceptional natural beauty and a variety of outdoor activities, historical sites, a visitor center, abundant wildlife, and scenic drives.  

Mount Rushmore presents large stone carvings of past U.S. Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln. The vision of sculptor Gutzon Borglum and his son, the monument  was constructed between 1927-1941.  Crazy Horse Memorial is nearby and a work in progress, stone sculpture of the famous Lakota leader. It also honors the traditions, cultures of all Indigenous people.

Explore the many historic sites in Deadwood, including the gold rush history, historical figures, buildings, and old west entertainment. Deadwood was the epicenter of activity when Peter Eixenberger arrived in 1876. Family lore tells of Peter not only being a professional musician but also making side money playing music in the local saloons. Venture out on your own or take a private tour. 

The 1880 train is a historical steam engine era train that runs from Hill City to Keystone.  There are a variety of things to do and see in Hill City and Keystone, including a T-Rex Dinosaur exhibit, restaurants, gift shops and mining history. At least two of Peter & Mary's children (Frank & Arthur) worked for the Chicago Northwestern Railroad and took grandchildren to ride this historic train.

Devils Tower National Monument is a naturally occurring stone feature rising 1,267 feet above the Belle Fourche River. It is a sacred pace to over 20 Native American tribes and is also known as Bear Lodge. It was named as America's first national monument in 1906 by Theodore Roosevelt and was a prominent feature in the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind. 

The Elkhorn Ridge Golf Course is nearby, includes 18-holes with the back nine along the foothills and the front nine along the canyon. The course has very scenic views and a variety of challenges. A best ball scramble may be considered if there is enough interest.