The 1881 Courthouse Museum explores Black Hills history from General George Armstrong Custer’s 1874 expedition to today’s heritage. The city and county of Custer are located in the historic Black Hills of South Dakota. The Custer County 1881 Courthouse Museum is housed in the original Dakota Territory courthouse built in 1880-1881.This building has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. This Dakota Territory Courthouse served not only as a center for government, but also in early years as a meeting place for church services, socials and community activities. Justice was dispensed from this building for 92 years until it was given to the Custer County Historical Society in 1973. The Historical Society opened the Museum on Memorial weekend in 1976.