5 Things to See and Do in Deadwood: The Black Hills Town Where the Gold Rush Never Really Ended

Deadwood sits in the northern Black Hills of South Dakota. The Black Hills themselves are a must-see for any dedicated traveller, not least of all for the opportunity to retrace the steps of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane all the way to their final resting places in Mount Moriah Cemetery. But about 50 miles from Rapid City, tucked into a narrow gulch carved by Whitewood Creek, you will find the town of Deadwood: a remarkably well-preserved piece of one of North America’s most storied historic periods. 

1. Broken Boot Gold Mine

Olaf Seim and James Nelson dug their way into this particular patch of mountain in 1878. It produced around 15,000 ounces of gold over 26 years, which sounds impressive until you learn the owners made a lot more money from the iron pyrite running through the same rock.

It sat unused for nearly half a century until, in 1954, it was reopened as a visitor attraction. During renovation they found an old miner’s boot in a back chamber, which gave the place its current name. The guided tours take you underground into the original shafts, by the light of candles or lamps (more on that below), past the tools, the ore cars, and the narrow drifts that men actually crawled through in the dark for decades. At the surface you can pan for gold.

2. The Adams Museum

The Adams Museum is one of the oldest you’ll encounter, and is free to enter. It covers the gold rush era in some depth and gets you feeling fully entrenched in the atmosphere of the place.

You’ll find it on Sherman Street, a short walk from Main Street, bursting with artifacts covering the full sweep of Deadwood’s history. It’s not just about the famous names, but also the daily texture of life in one of America’s most quintessential gold rush settlements.

Among the exhibits: Wild Bill Hickok’s bust, Calamity Jane’s saddle, Potato Creek Johnny’s celebrated gold nugget and a collection of photographs and objects that bring history to life. This isn’t a museum to hurry through, or to miss.

3. Stay Somewhere On-Theme

While there’s a big Hilton nearby, the history buff inside you might be better served by one of the many historic hotels and cabins in the area, which feel a little more ‘movie set’ and a little less ‘just passing through’. 

There’s also the Deadwood Mountain Grand, a $50 million hotel built inside a converted 1906 ore-processing building that locals used to call the Slime Plant.  For those with a passing interest in the tables and online casino games – or simply that very specific, cinematic point in North American history – this is the place to stay. 

Seth Bullock, first Sheriff of Deadwood, built what is now the Historic Bullock Hotel. For views of main street, Celebrity Boutique Hotel is another great option, while just outside of town you’ll find The 1899. Still walking distance from the heart of things, and with a breakfast to brag about, it’s a great option if you want a little more peace at night. 

4. Saloon No. 10

Today’s Saloon No. 10 operates across the street from the original site, which is now marked by a commemorative sign outside a trading post. The current saloon displays the chair Hickok was sitting in when the incident took place, and stages re-enactments throughout the summer season.

The theatrics are broad and the crowds can be loud, but the history underneath them is still rich as ever. The saloon itself is worth a visit regardless of the show: it is papered in old photographs and bric-a-brac that collectively amount to a fairly thorough education in what Deadwood was actually like.

5. Walking Tours and Local Guides

The town has a few walking tours that are great for learning the things that don’t fit on a placard, like the details of specific buildings and what happened inside them, and the less heroic episodes that complicate the mythology. 

The candlelight tours at Broken Boot Gold Mine are one of those ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunities travelers shouldn’t miss.

The town’s Deadwood Alive programme also puts costumed performers on the streets and stages, recreating historical figures and events in a way that ranges from surprisingly informative to enjoyably ridiculous depending on your tolerance for that kind of thing.