History Below The Pines Presents: The Storytellers' Collection

Levi Kessler
  • 4.4 (5)
  • Documentary

Exploring the stories buried beneath the surface. ​History Below the Pines is a digital history project and podcast by Levi Kessler dedicated to uncovering the forgotten narratives of the Black Hills! From local legends to overlooked historical milestones, to working with private landowners we will dig deep into the archives and the landscape to bring you the history of the past. ​With a community that reaches millions across Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram. combined we bridge the gap between academic history and the curiosity of the everyday explorer. Whether it’s a relic found in the woods or a story lost to time, we find the "history below the pines" and bring it back to life.

  1. Beyond The Granite Faces: The People's History of Keystone

    Apr 29

    Beyond The Granite Faces: The People's History of Keystone

    In the Season 1 finale, History Below The Pines steps away from the shadows of Mount Rushmore to explore the "People’s History of Keystone" at its most enduring landmark: Halley’s General Store. Founded in the 1880s by a ventriloquist wagon peddler known as "Cheap John," Halley’s has evolved from a 19th-century mercantile into a living museum that remains virtually unchanged today. Levi Kessler, the founder of History Below The Pines sits down with current owner Will Nelson and local historian Bernard to discuss how this single building served as the heartbeat of a mining town—supplying everything from 1880s fashion to the dynamite used by Gutzon Borglum’s crew to carve the faces on the mountain. This is another episode you will not want to miss! Thank you all for tuning in this season and we will be back soon for another season of The Storytellers' Collection Podcast! See you next season! - HBP

    51 min
  2. From Ore to "I DO"

    Apr 15

    From Ore to "I DO"

    In this episode of the Storytellers Collection, we journey deep into the Black Hills to explore the remarkable transformation of a 125-year-old mica mine. First claimed in 1901, this bustling pegmatite mine once employed 50 men and fueled the industrial boom of the early 20th century before falling silent in 1920. After decades of sporadic activity and quiet abandonment, the site has found a second life. We sit down with the owner, Bryan, to discuss his vision for turning a rugged industrial relic into a stunning, one-of-a-kind wedding venue. Join us as we bridge the gap between the grit of the 1900s and the celebrations of today, proving that history below the pines is never truly finished—it just waits for its next chapter.

    27 min
  3. The Richest Hill On Earth

    Apr 8

    The Richest Hill On Earth

    In this episode of History Below the Pines, we travel to Butte, Montana—a city built on copper, grit, and 10,000 miles of underground tunneling. Known as "The Richest Hill on Earth," Butte’s legacy is one of staggering wealth and immense sacrifice. Levi sits down with Jeanette Kopf, the Executive Director of the World Museum of Mining. Located on the actual mine yard of the historic Orphan Girl Mine, the museum serves as a time capsule for a vanished way of life. Jeanette shares the history of the museum’s founding in 1963, the preservation of the towering 100-foot steel headframe, and the stories of the thousands of miners who descended 3,200 feet into the dark every day. In this episode, we explore: The transition from gold and silver to the "Copper Boom" that put Butte on the global stage.The history of the Orphan Girl Mine and its survival through legal battles and flooding.Life in "Hell Roarin' Gulch"—the museum’s meticulously recreated 1890s mining town.Why preserving the "privately-owned" and often forgotten history of the West is more important now than ever.Step back in time and go 100 feet underground as we uncover the secrets of the hill that changed America. This is an episode you will NOT want to miss!

    37 min
  4. Whiskey and Black Hills History

    Apr 1

    Whiskey and Black Hills History

    In this episode of the History Below The Pines Storytellers Collection, Host Levi Kessler pulls up a barstool at one of the oldest watering holes in the Black Hills: The Casino Bar (affectionately known today as Lumpy’s) in Central City, SD. ​Established in 1888, this landmark has survived 130 years of boom, bust, and Black Hills grit. We dive into the era when Central City was a titan of the territory—larger than both Lead and Deadwood—and explore why a bar that never held a legal gambling license earned the name "The Casino." This is another episode you do not want to miss!

    25 min
  5. The Landlocked Ocean

    Mar 25

    The Landlocked Ocean

    How did wild-caught dolphins end up in a knotty-pine tank in the Black Hills, or spending their winters in an Arizona car dealership parking lot? In this episode, we uncover the surreal and often somber history of Rapid City Marine Life, a roadside attraction that feels like a fever dream from a different era of animal entertainment. We trace the journey of these cetaceans from the Gulfarium in Florida to the unconventional indoor dolphinarium of South Dakota. From dolphins performing leaps for trainers on ladders to the bizarre logistical feat of transporting marine mammals to a Scottsdale Ford dealership for winter housing, we examine the ethics, the eccentricities, and the eventual closure of this local landmark. This is an episode you do not want to miss!

    51 min
  6. Prohibition in Spearfish

    Mar 18

    Prohibition in Spearfish

    In this episode we sit down with Tobias Steeves! Tobias is the owner and operator of the Tucked Tie Speakeasy. We talk everything from history of Prohibition in the Black Hills to the art of making cocktails! In future episodes we will go more into detail on the mobster side of things in the Black Hills!

    26 min
  7. Voices From The Shaft

    Mar 4

    Voices From The Shaft

    In this episode, we descend deep into the legacy of the Homestake Mine, one of the most significant pillars of South Dakota’s history. We aren’t just looking at the blueprints or the production numbers; we’re sitting down with three men who spent their careers in the dark, breathing the air, and building the legend. Join us as we go straight to the source. Our guests pull back the curtain on life at Homestake, sharing raw, unfiltered stories that you won’t find in the history books. From the daily adrenaline of high-stakes mining and incredible engineering successes to the lighter side of the job—including the legendary underground pranks that kept morale high—we cover it all. We even dig into the eerie, unexplained encounters that many who worked the deep levels swear were more than just shadows. Whether you're a mining history buff or just love a good story from those who lived it, this episode is a front-row seat to the life and times of the Homestake workforce.

    1h 36m
  8. 600 Feet In

    Feb 25

    600 Feet In

    Join us for this historic episode as we take the podcast entirely underground! Recorded 600 feet deep inside the Big Thunder Gold Mine, Episode 5 features a special sit-down with owner Sandi and head tour manager Lizzy. Tune in as we dig into the rich history and fascinating stories buried deep within the mine. We may even talk about some ghost lore. This is an episode you do not want to miss!

    47 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.4
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Exploring the stories buried beneath the surface. ​History Below the Pines is a digital history project and podcast by Levi Kessler dedicated to uncovering the forgotten narratives of the Black Hills! From local legends to overlooked historical milestones, to working with private landowners we will dig deep into the archives and the landscape to bring you the history of the past. ​With a community that reaches millions across Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram. combined we bridge the gap between academic history and the curiosity of the everyday explorer. Whether it’s a relic found in the woods or a story lost to time, we find the "history below the pines" and bring it back to life.

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