Description

What is the Black Hills wooden postcard?

It’s a postcard made from birch wood instead of cardstock. Xplorer Maps, a family-owned map and illustration studio in Missoula, Montana, makes these. The front has a hand-drawn map of the Black Hills region by Chris Robitaille, Xplorer’s co-founder and artist. The artwork includes Black Hills National Forest, Wind Cave National Park, and surrounding landmarks. On the back, there’s a standard postcard layout (address lines, stamp box) printed on the wood. You write directly on it with a ballpoint pen or permanent marker, add a stamp, and mail it.

That’s the main thing that catches people off guard: it actually mails. Standard USPS rates. The wood is thin enough to go through sorting machines, and Xplorer has been making these for years for park stores across the country. The 1 oz weight keeps it in standard postcard territory without added postage.

Specifications

• Material: Sustainably harvested birch wood
• Dimensions: 6 1/4″ wide x 4 1/4″ tall (6.25″ x 4.25″)
• Weight: 1 oz
• Mailable: Yes, 100% (standard postcard stamp)
• Writing: Ballpoint pen or permanent marker on the wood back
• Manufacturer: Xplorer Maps, Missoula, MT
• Made in: USA

Storage and care

If you’re keeping it as a collectible rather than mailing it, store it somewhere cool, dry, and out of direct sunlight. Humidity and heat can warp the wood over time. Acid-free plastic sleeves (polyethylene or Mylar) work well for long-term storage if you’re building a collection.

Who buys this?

There are three groups. First, people who want a distinctive postcard to send from the Black Hills. Cardstock gets tossed; people tend to keep the wooden ones. Second, visitors who pick it up as a keepsake for themselves. It sits on a desk or bookshelf in a way a paper postcard doesn’t. Third, gift-givers who want something lightweight, flat, and easy to pack that still feels more considered than a magnet.

At 1 oz, it slips into a carry-on without adding meaningful weight. Fits in a standard envelope or mails on its own.

About Xplorer Maps

Xplorer Maps started as a small family studio in Missoula, Montana. Chris Robitaille draws each map by hand. The Black Hills postcard is part of a broader collection of region-specific illustrated maps across national parks and public lands. Xplorer’s products show up in park stores around the country; the Black Hills version is specific to this region and features landmarks across the national forest and park area.

Frequently asked questions

Can you actually mail this through USPS?
Yes. It goes through normal mail at standard postcard rates. Write the address and your message with a ballpoint pen or permanent marker, add a stamp, and drop it in a mailbox. Xplorer makes these to be mailed, not just displayed.

What do I write with?
Ballpoint pen or permanent marker. The wood surface doesn’t work well with felt-tip or regular pencil. A ballpoint gives clean, readable lines without smearing.

What’s the artwork on this one?
It’s a hand-drawn illustrated map of the Black Hills region by Chris Robitaille. The design includes Black Hills National Forest, Wind Cave National Park, and regional wildlife like bison and elk. Landmarks across the area are drawn in Xplorer’s warm earth-tone style.

Is it the right size for a standard stamp?
Yes. At 6.25″ x 4.25″ and 1 oz, it qualifies as a standard postcard for USPS purposes. One first-class postcard stamp covers it.

Will it warp if I mail it?
Xplorer designs these specifically for mailing. The birch wood is thin enough to process through sorting machines. Customers mail them regularly without reported warping. Storing one in a hot car or damp environment is more likely to cause issues than normal postal transit.

Does buying this support the Black Hills National Forest?
Yes. 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.

Is this sold as a single postcard or in a set?
Sold individually, one postcard per purchase.

Where else can I find Xplorer Maps products?
Xplorer Maps sells directly through their website and through park stores across the country. The BHPFA store carries this Black Hills design; other regional designs may be available at their site.