Opening Day

Last year I posted about the history of Silver Dollar City.  I love history {obviously} and love SDC, so when I saw this pic on the SDC facebook page I thought it was really cool.

This was the poster used for the grand opening of Silver Dollar City back in May 1960.

I love the style of the poster; it's a design style they still use all over the park in their signs.

From a Hole in the Ground

Doesn't it seem like those “hole in the wall” type places are always the best? Such as that “hole in a wall” diner that sells the best burgers in the county. Well what about a “hole in the ground”? I know of a hole in the ground that has become my favorite place on Earth.

It just so happens that Silver Dollar City got its start as a literal hole in the ground- a cave attraction. The cave, Marvel Cave, was discovered in the 1500s by the Osage Indians. In the 1880s adventure seekers began exploring the cave by lowering themselves down the 200 feet, by rope, into the main chamber. In the early 1900s regular cave tours began. By the 1920s Marvel Cave was a well-established attraction.

The Herschend family visited the cave in 1946 and fell in love with it. Then in 1950 they took over the management and tours of the cave. In 1954 a traveling salesman's story planted the idea in Hugo Herschend's mind to recreate an 1880s mining town.

In 1960 Silver Dollar City opened. It was named after a promotional idea of giving visitors silver dollars as change. Little money was spent on advertising, but the word of mouth was tremendous.

Each employee at the city is not called an employee, but a citizen and dresses in a 1880s costume. In the first year SDC brought in more then 125,000 visitors; four times more then the cave was drawing.

In the first 50 years Silver Dollar City has won several awards and has had 65 million guests from all over the world.

"From natural wonder to international attraction, it all started with a hole in the ground."

*To read more about Silver Dollar City's history please click here*

History of Silver Dollar City

I mentioned my love for Silver Dollar City in my blog introduction.  I was fortunate enough to get to go several times a year from 1996 to 2009 (except 1 year).  I think it's safe to say Silver Dollar City was the first love of my life!

If it wasn't for SDC I would have zero interest in music.  I would not be as interested in photography.  Nor would I have as much love for history.  In other words Silver Dollar City has made me who I am. 

Today I was looking up some info about Disneyland which lead into some research pertaining to SDC and I came across THIS page.  It's a great timeline detailing the history of not only SDC but of the land it sits on...all the way back to the Osage tribe.  It's really neat to see how much the park has changed, even in just the 15 years I've known it. 


Silver Dollar City calls it's employees citizens.  I'd like to think that I'm an honorary citizen of the City.