Deadwood, SD Summary

photo by ccahoon

Deadwood (population 1,734) lies in the middle of the Black Hills National Forest, about 45 miles northwest of Rapid City on US-85.

In 1989, limited gambling was approved in Deadwood. It is hoped that the increased revenue will provide funds to maintain its Wild West character and legends. Deadwood is the town where gunslingers Wild Bill Hickok and Martha “Calamity” Jane lived and died. The story goes that in 1876, when gold was discovered in Deadwood, 6,000 gold diggers from all over the country came to find their wealth. James Butler, also known as Wild Bill Hickok, and Calamity Jane came to town in the hope of winning some of the new wealth at the gambling tables.

Wild Bill had a reputation as a good gunman because he worked as a sheriff in Wyoming.The town of Deadwood hoped he could help bring order to a town that had gone out of control in the gold rush. Unfortunately, as he played cards in Saloon #10, he was shot in the back of the head by Jack McCall. (When he fell forward and spilled the cards he was holding, they were black aces and eights. This combination has since been called dead man’s hand.) McCall was found guilty, hanged, and buried in an unmarked grave.

Hickok’s body lies with his fellow legends of the west, Calamity Jane, Deadwood Gulch, Preacher Smith, and Madam Dora Du Fran. Lawlessness continued for 10 more years until millionaire George Hearst (father of William Randolph Hearst) came to Deadwood with two other investors. They bought mines and built businesses and buildings, many of which are still standing.

Every summer the shooting of Wild Bill Hickok is re-enacted at Saloon #10 at 657 Main Street.

Walking the streets of Deadwood, visitors encounter random shootouts all along Main Street. There are many places to gamble, some with names such as “Silverado,” and “Miss Kitty’s.” The Homestead Gold Mine Surface Tour and the Black Hills Mining Museum, both on Main Street, are places to learn more about the history of the gold rush in Deadwood.

Nearby Sturgis and Spearfish are serviced by bus and Rapid City has air and bus service.