The home of Wild Bill Hickock and Calamity Jane, Deadwood is found at the edge of the Black Hills in South Dakota. It provides a rare glimpse into the pages of history where every building is a national landmark.
Currently, the entire town is undergoing a historic restoration, the largest of its kind in the country. Funding for this project is being provided, in part, by proceeds from legalized gambling that was reintroduced into the area in 1986.
There are ample retail shops and restaurants in town to keep the creature needs satisfied. Finding sleeps, too, is not a problem. A variety of accommodations and campsites are available in and about town.
A trip to Old Town Hall is a ghostly affair where the voices of the ghosts retell their stories from behind the stiffened figures in the wax museum. Here, the saga of Deadwood's past is revealed from life-like dioramas.
Each year, the town celebrates its world-renown "Days of '76". During this 3-day gala, the entire city is recaptured into history, living out its gold rush days when Deadwood was anything but dead. A rodeo and pageant culminates the celebration.
In nearby Spearfish, beautiful countryside awaits its visitors and lures them into a recreational nirvana. Fourteen mountain lakes, encased by the Black Hills, offer tourists an overwhelming amount of outdoor activities. Downhill and cross-country skiing on miles of trails, snowmobile paths that run for 350 miles, fishing in the myriad of pristine mountain lakes, and a network of national parks to play in is just a piece of the total picture. Spearfish is also near the famous Mount Rushmore.
At Wind Cave National Park, there are a plethora of nature trails to choose from where bird watchers and nature photographers have a front-row seat to the drama of the woodlands. At Custer State Park, in the midst of rugged panoramic beauty, horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing and fishing are all popular activities.
Deadwood and Spearfish are located in the west-central portion of South Dakota.