Galena Ghost Town Walk and Screening
June 7, 2025
In April of this year, the SDHC-funded documentary project Galena: The Ghost Town that Came Back to Life premiered at the South Dakota Art Museum in Brookings. Now, the documentary is making its way to its hometown of Galena.
The documentary film will be shown during the annual Galena Ghost Town Walk, taking place June 14 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., when visitors can tour the town and learn about its history.
The documentary highlights the importance of preserving the history of South Dakota’s ghost towns through the story of Galena. Told through the voices of current residents and descendants of former inhabitants, the film explores how the town’s rich past continues to shape its present.
Finn Kane, a recent graduate of South Dakota State University’s School of Communication and Journalism, shot and edited the film for his Master’s project. “I was drawn to this project because it is a South Dakota story that hasn’t been told before,” Kane said. “The historians that are keeping the story alive are all older, so it is important to continue on telling the story.”
The Galena Ghost Town Walk is an annual event hosted by The Galena Society. The walk itself is “a one-to-five-mile self-guided trek at your own pace.” During the walk, educational speakers will narrate stories of Galena’s mining camps. An outdoor barbeque will be provided in the afternoon. The Galena Society asks for a $5 donation. All the proceeds from the day will go to the Galena Historical Society to continue the restoration and revitalization of the town.
To learn more about this grant, contact Rocky Dailey at (605) 688-4171 or rocky.dailey@sdstate.edu
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