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 area. Here are some of the things to do that we noted:

---

Fun in Deadwood –

• 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 the town 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 there, 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.

And not too far from Deadwood is Custer State Park.