Description
What it is
This is the Jewel Cave National Monument sticker from the Scenic Highways series, a line of stickers and posters sold in park stores across the Black Hills region. The sticker is rectangular, 2.5 by 4.5 inches, printed on vinyl with an adhesive backing made for smooth surfaces. At 0.1 oz, about the weight of a postage stamp, it tucks into a card or a pack pocket as a quick keepsake from a cave tour.
About the design
The artwork is a bordered poster-style panel in deep blue and gold. A caver in a brimmed hat and coat holds up a lantern, the light catching the crystal-textured cave walls overhead, with other tour-goers in shadow behind him. The “Jewel” and “Cave” lettering arcs across the top and “Nat’l Monument” sits in the lower corner, all inside a printed border that frames the sticker.
About the monument
Jewel Cave is on US-16 between Custer, South Dakota, and Newcastle, Wyoming, within the Black Hills National Forest about 13 miles west of Custer. It was established as a National Monument by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908. The cave was discovered in 1900 by brothers Frank and Albert Michaud, who heard wind rushing through a small opening. As of 2026 it has more than 220 miles of surveyed passage, making it the third-longest cave system in the world. The name comes from the calcite crystals that line the walls, dogtooth spar (sharp and pointed) and nailhead spar (flat and blunt), that catch the light like cut glass.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 2.5″ x 4.5″, rectangular
- Weight: 0.1 oz
- Material: vinyl with adhesive backing
- Design: Jewel Cave National Monument, Scenic Highways series
Who picks this up
It is a simple, low-cost reminder of a Jewel Cave visit and an easy add alongside another purchase at the visitor center store. The rectangular shape sits well on a laptop, a bottle, or a journal cover, and it helps collectors round out the thinner South Dakota section of an NPS sticker collection.
Frequently asked questions
What size is the sticker?
2.5 inches by 4.5 inches, rectangular format.
Are these stickers removable?
Vinyl stickers with pressure-sensitive adhesive can generally be peeled from most smooth surfaces without residue, especially within the first few months. Peel slowly at a low angle for the cleanest result.
Is it related to the Scenic Highways posters?
Yes. The Scenic Highways Park Posters are part of the same product line, with screen-printed designs of Jewel Cave and Wind Cave landmarks. The posters and stickers are sold separately.
Does buying this support the monument?
BHPFA is the official nonprofit partner of Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Scotts Bluff National Monument, and Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, as well as the Black Hills National Forest and Nebraska National Forests & Grasslands. Proceeds from every purchase support education programs, conservation projects, and visitor services at these sites.
