Deadwood
Deadwood is a small historic town located in the scenic black hills of South Dakota. Its early days as a boom town can only be described as wild; shootouts, murders, gambling, and prostitutes was the norm. Even its founding was scandalous, built upon Native American land it was not considered a legal town for years after its founding. Nowadays visitors can see many original buildings that recount the short lawless history that defines Deadwood.
Boom beginnings
The history of Deadwood starts in 1874, in that year gold was discovered in the Black Hills kicking off the last great gold rush. In April of 1876 Deadwood was officially (illegally) laid out, located next to a gulch full of dead trees, it only took one month for multiple brothels and saloons to crop up and reach a population in the thousands.
The Outlaws Arrive
Later that year a wagon train carrying commodities was organized to travel from Colorado, among its cargo was Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, Madam Mustache, and enough prostitutes for a boom town. Needless to say gunfights, murders, drunken brawls, gambling, and substance abuse was rampant. As a testament to this insanity the western icon Wild Bill only made it one month before meeting his end at a gambling table.
Taming of Deadwood
Sadly this lawless, drunken, and prostitute laden madness wasn’t to last. In the late 1870’s gold panning was becoming less effective and attention switched to mining. Nearby Homestake Mine was established in this time, and continued to operate until 2002 when it was opened to tourists and scientists. This lead to a “clearing out” of the rougher crowd and establishment of a prosperous town.
Early Adopter
In 1879 electricity was brought to Deadwood, four years after its invention, and one year after most major cities started introducing it. This put the small town on the cutting edge of 1880’s technology, a position it would keep well into the 1920’s due to the early installation of an electric tram connecting Deadwood and Lead. All this development and population growth lead to the incorporation of Deadwood in early 1881, 8 years before South Dakota became a state and 7 years after it was founded.
Deadwood is a small historic town located in the scenic black hills of South Dakota. Its early days as a boom town can only be described as wild; shootouts, murders, gambling, and prostitutes was the norm. Even its founding was scandalous, built upon Native American land it was not considered a legal town for years after its founding. Nowadays visitors can see many original buildings that recount the short lawless history that defines Deadwood.
Boom beginnings
The history of Deadwood starts in 1874, in that year gold was discovered in the Black Hills kicking off the last great gold rush. In April of 1876 Deadwood was officially (illegally) laid out, located next to a gulch full of dead trees, it only took one month for multiple brothels and saloons to crop up and reach a population in the thousands.
The Outlaws Arrive
Later that year a wagon train carrying commodities was organized to travel from Colorado, among its cargo was Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, Madam Mustache, and enough prostitutes for a boom town. Needless to say gunfights, murders, drunken brawls, gambling, and substance abuse was rampant. As a testament to this insanity the western icon Wild Bill only made it one month before meeting his end at a gambling table.
Taming of Deadwood
Sadly this lawless, drunken, and prostitute laden madness wasn’t to last. In the late 1870’s gold panning was becoming less effective and attention switched to mining. Nearby Homestake Mine was established in this time, and continued to operate until 2002 when it was opened to tourists and scientists. This lead to a “clearing out” of the rougher crowd and establishment of a prosperous town.
Early Adopter
In 1879 electricity was brought to Deadwood, four years after its invention, and one year after most major cities started introducing it. This put the small town on the cutting edge of 1880’s technology, a position it would keep well into the 1920’s due to the early installation of an electric tram connecting Deadwood and Lead. All this development and population growth lead to the incorporation of Deadwood in early 1881, 8 years before South Dakota became a state and 7 years after it was founded.