Erected in 1896, the Bullock Hotel is one of many historic buildings that line Main Street in downtown Deadwood. It is named after one of its builders and Deadwood's first sheriff and friend of President Theodore Roosevelt, Seth Bullock, who was depicted in the HBO series "Deadwood." The other builder was Bullock's Jewish business partner, Sol Star, who was also portrayed in the series. The hotel is the first and oldest hotel in the city and continues to operate today. It still retains some original interior features including the skylight and large staircase.
From murder during a poker game to the modern gambling industry, Saloon No. 10 has a "rough-and-tumble" history as long as Deadwood, South Dakota itself. It is infamous today as the site where Wild Bill Hickok, an Old West folk hero, was murdered during a poker game, and was frequented by Old West and local historic figures in its early years. Although the original building, little more than a wooden shed, burned down during an 1879 mining fire, the modern building survives to this day, with pictures and artifacts serving as a testament to Deadwood's early decades and Gold Rush history.
The Franklin was Deadwood's first high-end hotel, which opened its doors in 1903 as gold mining and other industry boomed in South Dakota. The hotel's name and early success are owed to Harris Franklin, née Finkelstein, a Prussian Jewish immigrant who made his fortune in the Franklin & Baer liquor store and his investments in gold mining. Although the hotel hosted many famous visitors over the years, including Theodore Roosevelt and Babe Ruth, it suffered greatly from the end of the gold rush and the Great Depression, finally being converted into apartments in the 1930s. It got the boost it needed when the city legalized gambling in the 1980s, with the Silverado Gaming Establishment revitalizing the historic hotel, adding a casino, and helping restore interest in tourism here in Deadwood.
Deadwood's Masonic Temple was built from 1900 to 1910, and the building still operates today. This temple, along with the one in Yankton, has been noted by historians for its artistically significant backdrops, which the temple has used in the many plays it puts on over the years. Additionally, Deadwood's Jewish community held its High Holiday services here from the late nineteenth century to the mid-twentieth, making this the closest thing to a synagogue that Deadwood has had.
Operated by Historic Deadwood, Inc., the historic Adams Museum is dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of the city and the Black Hills. The museum is named after its founder, businessman, and six-term mayor, William E. Adams. He built the museum in 1930 and donated it to the city. The building is a fine example of Classical Revival architecture. The museum features many historical items on display including personal belongings, memorabilia, and artifacts of well-known historical figures of Deadwood. Highlights include a large 7.346 troy ounce gold nugget, a pencil sketch of the famous Western historical figure Wild Bill Hickok by illustrator N.C. Wyeth, and a rare specimen of a plesiosaur (an ancient marine reptile). The building is a contributing property of the Deadwood Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Historic Deadwood also operates the Days of '76 Museum, the Historic Adams House (see below), and the Homestake Adams Research Center, which holds one of the largest collection of Black Hills archival materials in the country.
One of Deadwood's oldest cemeteries, Mount Moriah can tell visitors much about the city's diverse history. Buried in this cemetery are frontiersmen, miners, veterans, and numerous Jewish and Chinese people who came here looking for work. Most Jews lived here in the early twentieth century, leaving when the search for gold and silver ended for places like Rapid City. Deadwood has changed a great deal since, but one can learn a lot about the city's early history from visiting the burial sites of many early residents.
This Tour is a Driving or Biking Tour.
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This short walk through Deadwood includes stops at iconic landmarks such as the Bullock Hotel, Saloon No. 10, the Silverado Franklin Hotel, and Mount Mariah Cemetery. The walk also includes a stop at the Adams Museum which is operated by Historic Deadwood, Inc. There are numerous other Deadwood landmarks on Clio beyond this short walk.
