South Dakotan Bill Groethe has been a professional photographer since age 10. Groethe's love of photography led to a career of capturing images of people in love - he became a wedding photographer.  However, it was Groethe's desire to shoot something different that changed his life.

While attending the dedication of Crazy Horse Mountain in 1948, Groethe snapped a picture of the last survivors of The Battle of Little Bighorn.  The photograph of the eight Native Americans quickly became a part of our history - and is on display at the Smithsonian.

Today, South Dakotans celebrate and honor Groethe's famous photo - by dedicating September 2, as Groethe Day.  Independent producer Jim Kent frames this portrait of a man named Bill. … Back to Article