Located in the wilds of western South Dakota]], Deadwood harks back to the ‘Wild West’ frontier days associated with the likes of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. The town features many interesting museums, an old gold mine, several historic hotels, lots of pubs and restaurants, and is popular with tourists year round.
Deadwood takes its name from the dead trees that were found in the now Main and Sherman streets – Deadwood Gulch canyon. The city was incorporated in 1876 after gold was discovered here and was reached by railroad 15 years later. You can still pan for gold at the old gold mine, and since the legalization of gambling in 1989, can once again gamble (limited wagers) in the many hotels, bars and restaurants.
Once you have checked out some museums and gambling dens, have a look for the graves of the infamous Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane in the Mount Moriah Cemetery. The view from the cemetery is fantastic and overlooks the town from a hill in the north.
Highlights
Mount Moriah Cemetery: is one of Deadwood’s biggest draws, featuring the graves of Wild Bill, Calamity Jane and many other noted Old West individuals - although a steep climb from town, the cemetery is reachable by foot.
Adams Museum: on Sherman Street, this elegant Victorian mansion museum has free entry and is the oldest history museum in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Nelson’s Garage Car Museum: located in the Celebrity Hotel & Casino on Main Street, Nelson’s has some fine automobiles, including a MASH jeep, James Bond’s Aston Martin and Magnum’s Ferrari.
Tatanka: is located just outside Deadwood and tells the town’s story and that of the huge decline of the North American buffalo.