Deadwood: Good time in Old West

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Old West Lives On in Deadwood SD

Calamity Jane and pals in Deadwood Days of 76 Parade

Relive the old west or gamble. The entire city of Deadwood is a National Historic Landmark. It was established in 1876 during the Black Hills gold rush, when John B. Pearson discovered gold in a narrow canyon in the northern Black Hills. The canyon became known as "Deadwood Gulch" due to the dead trees that lined the canyon walls at the time. The town has survived a great fire in 1879, another fire in 1894 and an 1883 flood. It is known as a Wild West town, and celebrates the likes of Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, Potato Creek Johnny and Seth Bullock.

We spent several days in the Deadwood area. Here are some of the things to do that we noted:

Visit the casinos - the town is full of them. The fanciest joint is Kevin Costner's Midnight Star. The casino, restaurant and bar all house pictures and movie memorabilia of Costner films. The casinos are low key and in keeping with the historic appeal of the town. Gambling has been part of Deadwood's history since the beginning in 1876. And today, it has been used to benefit the continued legacy of the city. In 1989, Deadwood supporters successfully inaugurated legal gaming with some of the profits used for historic preservation.
Restaurants are scattered throughout town, many offering the "best steak" and/or buffets at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Tin Lizzie's burger and nightly specials seem to be popular inexpensive choices. Mustang Sally's offers informal fare with some tables set alongside main street.
Perhaps the best place to begin your visit is in the old Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad station, which has been turned into a Visitor's Center. You can pick up brochures and get some valuable background info that will help make the most of your visit.
We don't gamble much, yet we found a lot to keep us interested in Deadwood. We saw the Old Style Saloon Number 10 with its historic memorabilia and touristy reenactment of the card game where Hickok was shot. There are also other gunslinger reenactments around town, including the capture and trial of Wild Bill's assassin, Jack McCall.
Don't miss the Adams Museum, which houses three floors showcasing the history and people of Deadwood and the surrounding Black Hills area. Admission is by donation. The museum was built by pioneer businessman and philanthropist W.E. Adams, who also served as the town's mayor for several terms. You can also visit the restored Adams House, with many authentic furnishings. There is an admission fee that includes a guided tour.
We poked around in the casinos and found some interesting and free things to see. There's a worthwhile Wild Bill interpretive exhibit tucked away inside the Wild West Winners Casino (the site of the actual Saloon 10 before the fire). Amidst the gaming machines in the Celebrity Hotel casino, there's a fun little collection of famous autos and memorabilia from film and television. Check out the life-size bronze statue of Wild Bill in front of the Four Aces. The historic Franklin Hotel is worth a look inside. The Bullock Hotel has a few items commemorating namesake Seth Bullock.
Another good stop is to visit Mount Moriah Cemetery where the famous names of Deadwood rest in peace. You can take a guided tour, or walk through yourself. Be sure to pick up the interesting guide map that is provided, describing the famous people buried here. Set high on a hill, Mount Moriah also gives you a nice view of Deadwood and the surrounding Black Hills. You cannot drive an RV up the hill to Mount Moriah. Instead, drive up in your car or take a very steep walk.
At Presidents Park, you can stroll along walking trails and see statues of the U.S. Presidents in chronological order. Admission charged.

We were in town for the Days of '76 Celebration. This is an annual event with a rodeo and two great parades. Many of the horse-drawn vehicles in the parade are normally on display at the Days of '76 Museum, along with other Western and American Indian items.

While we were in Deadwood, there was music during the day in the Stockade Beer Garden - you can relax with a drink or something to eat and listen. There were also live bands in several of the casino bars (Franklin Hotel, Bodega). We caught some good country and New Orleans tunes by the Music City Brass, who were at the Four Aces for the Days of '76 celebration.

Nearby is Tatanka, "Story of the Bison". This is another Kevin Costner project, featuring a huge sculpture of 14 bison and an interpretive exhibit center.

Another attraction close to Deadwood is the Homestake Mine in the town of Lead (pronounced "leed"). When the Homestake closed in 2001, 40 million troy ounces of gold had been mined, making it the largest gold mine in the western hemisphere and the oldest in the world. Surface tours are conducted in an air-conditioned trolley that takes visitors through the town of Lead and the grounds of the mine with explanations of the process of milling gold.
Other nearby mining attractions include the Black Hills Mining Museum and the Broken Boot Gold Mine.
For those craving a modern escape from the "days gone by" theme, Gulches of Fun is a small amusement park with go-karts, bumper boats, batting cages, miniature golf and arcade. And a casino for the adults.
You may also want to check out some of the trolley and bus tours of the city and and area attractions.

But do spend some time just strolling about town to learn about its interesting history and the old West legends that live on in this historic town.

Deadwood Days of 76 in 82nd year in 2005

And not too far from Deadwood is Custer State Park.