Lead community celebrates new Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center
The new facility is 8,000 square feet
LEAD, S.D.-The Lead community celebrated the grand opening of the new Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center at a dedication ceremony this afternoon.
The visitor center features a 3,000 square foot exhibit hall that walks people through the history of the area, an observation deck overlooking the mine, and a simulated ride down to the 4850 foot level of the mine.
Gov. Dennis daugaard, Sen. Mike Rounds and more, helped dedicated the 8,000 square foot facility.
Gov. Dennis Daugaard says T. Denny Sanford, a Sioux Falls philanthropist, gave an invaluable donation.
"Denny's gift of 70 million dollars was the carrot that was offered to the National Science Foundation, actually to this project if and only if the science foundation chose the deep underground lab here, Homestead, as the site of the deep underground lab," said Dougaard.
There is no fee to enter the visitor center or to see the exhibits. The first event at the facility will be July 11 for 'Neutrino Day'.
