Places To Go » Deadwood

July 23, 2008 8:15 PM

Welcome to Deadwood, South Dakota

Deadwood

In Old West legends, no name outdoes Deadwood (population 1,380; elevation 4,533 feet) in symbolizing the romance and excitement of those names out of the history books: Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, Wyatt Earp, Buffalo Bill, Poker Alice and, of course, Deadwood Dick (there were three of them.)

Originally, Deadwood was below the confluence of Deadwood and Whitewood creeks in the spring of 1876. The summer of 1876 brought news that Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer and his U.S. Cavalry command had been wiped out at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Hickok, who was well acquainted with Custer, mourned Custer’s death at such a young age, and then was gunned down himself on Aug. 2, 1876. Neither man reached the age of 40.

While mining for gold was a basic part of the town’s economy, it wasn’t for everyone. An equal number found and lost their fortunes at Deadwood’s gambling tables. Deadwood’s Chinatown and its large Jewish business community were very successful and added another dimension to its fascinating past.

Prohibition, and bans on gambling and prostitution, caused Deadwood’s economy to become more one-dimensional in its reliance on Homestake mine for income. The tourism industry came back in a flash when state-approved, limited-stakes gambling returned to Deadwood on Nov. 1, 1989.

Since that time, year-round tourism activity has increased. Visitors not only enjoy gaming activities and Deadwood’s rich history, but there are also family attractions, celebrations, shopping, dining and ongoing historical research and restoration.

Go beyond Main Street to glimpse casino town’s past.

Most visitors to Deadwood experience only the glitz of its casino-filled Main Street. But for a real historical perspective of this once rough and raucous town, you will need to explore beyond the blackjack tables and slot machines.

Deadwood and its sister city, Lead, were founded with the great gold rush of 1875 and as a result, the area was a hub for gunslingers and wealthy families in the Old West.

For an initial overview of Deadwood’s past, take one of the narrated bus tours of the town. These tours aren’t only for tourists. Even locals will learn a thing or two about Deadwood’s colorful past. The tours wind up the steep streets to Mount Moriah Cemetery, the final resting place for many of Deadwood’s legendary residents.

At Mount Moriah Cemetery, high on a hill overlooking Deadwood, you will hear about some of the town’s most famous residents. Most notable is Wild Bill Hickok, who was shot by Jack McCall in Deadwood during a poker game on Aug. 2, 1876. A bronze monument marks his gravesite. Calamity Jane, who was born as Martha Canary and claimed to be Wild Bill’s sweetheart, is buried beside him.

The antics of many of Deadwood’s characters are loosely interpreted daily each summer with two re-enactment style performances. The free Gunslingers show is presented several times daily along Main Street from Memorial Day through September. A mock Trial of Jack McCall is held nightly Memorial Day through Labor Day in the Deadwood Theatre (which is the Masonic Building next to the Silverado.) The re-enactment held Sunday through Friday starts with the capture of Jack McCall on Main Street at 7:30 p.m., and then the trial begins in the theater at 8 p.m. The performance is historically accurate with a large dose of entertainment provided by audience participation.

More history lessons

For more about the history of Deadwood, visit the Adams Museum (www.AdamsMuseumAndHouse.org) one block from Main Street. Open year-round, this free museum highlights the pioneer past of the northern Black Hills in its three floors of educational exhibits. You will see a replica of one of the largest gold nuggets found in the area (by Potato Creek Johnny), a one-of-a-kind plesiosaur fossil, the original Thoen Stone and a vast collection of Old West and Indian artifacts.

Much of Deadwood and Lead’s history is tied to the gold that was mined here from 1876 to 2001. Tours at the Homestake Gold Mine Visitor Center, 160 W. Main St., Lead, show how gold was mined. The Homestake Mine is the oldest and deepest gold mine in the Western Hemisphere, reaching more than 8,000 feet below the town of Lead. Go to www.homestaketour.com or call 584-3110.

Lead’s Black Hills Mining Museum, 323 W. Main St., also features a simulated underground gold mine tour and displays of historic mining equipment. Go to www.mining-museum.blackhills.com or call 584-1605.

History also has been preserved at the Homestake Opera House, 313 Main St., Lead. The opera house is being restored to its 1914 elegance. Formerly known as the Jewel of the Black Hills, the 300-seat theater also initially included a recreation building with a bowling alley, pool hall and swimming pool. Performances are held intermittently through the year, and tours are offered Monday through Friday.

For information, call 584-2067 or go to www.leadoperahouse.org.

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