Deadwood: The Wildest & Woolliest Town in the West--There was a time when it wasn't safe to walk the cobblestone streets of the Black Hills/ original sin city. But that was a thousand gunfights and barroom brawls ago, when Deadwood was known as the wildest, wickedest, woolliest town in the West, where Wild Bill Hickok was gunned down and where Calamity Jane Canary claimed she could outdrink, outswear, and outspit any man.
Today, the sounds of slot machines and street-side barkers have replaced the sporadic gunshots, crunching blows, and general rowdiness of a century ago, when miners, gamblers, and painted ladies all searched for their pot of gold. They found gold, of course, but seldom retained it.
The city's merchants, bankers, and saloonkeepers, however, cleverly invested their money in beautiful Victorian buildings and residences that today stand as testament to a richer time.
Although Deadwood was labeled "a disaster" by historic preservation officials just over a decade ago, the town is alive and kicking today. This is due to a great extent to limited stakes gambling, approved by South Dakota voters in 1989 to generate money to restore and preserve this mile-high community.
Now, state and national historic preservation officials call Deadwood's metamorphosis "a miracle." Brick streets, period lighting, and colorful trolleys greet visitors, who spend hours ducking in doorways and trying their luck in the town's 80--yes 80--gambling halls. In addition to gambling, Deadwood has some of the best restaurants and hotels in the state.
For more information on accommodations, walking tours, museums, attractions, special events, and gambling packages, contact the Deadwood Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Bureau (tel. 800/999-1876; www.deadwood.org), or stop by the History and Information Center in the classic train depot at 3 Siever St.
