Saving Space for the Humanities: Theater and Stage Restoration of the Historic Homestake Opera House

FAIN: CHA-264411-19

Historic Homestake Opera House Society (Lead, SD 57754-0412)
Sarah Jane Carlson (Project Director: August 2018 to March 2020)
Patrick O'Leary (Project Director: March 2020 to March 2021)
Thomas Golden (Project Director: March 2021 to March 2021)
Patrick O'Leary (Project Director: March 2021 to May 2021)
Jan Bloom (Project Director: May 2021 to October 2024)
Wayne Wilkinson (Project Director: October 2024 to October 2024)
Todd Jones (Project Director: October 2024 to present)

The completion of first-phase restoration activities in the theater of the Historic Homestake Opera House.

The Historic Homestake Opera House seeks funds to complete the restoration of our 1914 theater. The renovated space will allow for quality programs and conversations in history, literature, and culture that spark innovation, research, and community pride in the small mountain town of Lead, SD. Using construction phasing documents prepared by TSP, Inc., this restoration addresses accessibility and life safety concerns in the historic auditorium. The theater and stage housed therein were destroyed by fire in 1984. This restoration provides a link to the unique history of Lead, a company town built on gold mining. Phoebe Hearst, the beneficiary of the historic opera house, created the space to bring cultural opportunities to the miners who worked for husband George in the Homestake Gold Mine, once the largest in the Western Hemisphere. Saving Space for the Humanities continues her legacy by restoring a physical space in which to bring the humanities to our community once more.