Sunday, August 21, 2011



South Dakota and we're celebrating as we've added 4 more states to our map this summer: Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota. Looks like we're going to have to travel East after this year.







Deadwood, South Dakota
In 1876, fortune seekers looking for gold in the Black Hills stumbled upon a gulch full of dead trees and creek full of gold...The Wild West town of Deadwood was born. Since then fortune seekers continued to come to Deadwood looking for good luck and a good time. Dick and I certainly had a good time in this small town.....no gambling so not sure if we can claim good luck.


Our tour of the Mount Moriah Cemetery. We hiked to the top of the mountain to where Sheriff Seth Bullock overlooks the town he helped to tame. Sheriff Bullock was the first sheriff of Deadwood, a friend of Theodore Roosevelt and a member of the Black Hill Rough Riders.









Brown Rocks Overlook . Quite a view of the town of Deadwood. The American Flag at the overlook flies 24 hours a day by act of Congress. It is one of the few spots in the country which is afforded this honor.








Wild Bill Hickok's grave is on of the most visited sites in the cemetery. Wild Bill was known for his very colorful life including service as a marshal, an Army scout and numerous other tasks that called for a fast gun. Calamity Jane is buried next to him.








Had to include this Deadwood Dick's saloon. One of the original saloons in Deadwood is now an antique store with many of the items of the goldrush days on display.








Even though we stayed right on the edge of town, we still had wild life at our door.














Deadwood at night. The town is all lit up with the many gambling establishments and saloons. Just like Vegas, you can gamble 24 hours a day.









Reenactments of the Wild West shootouts are held on Main Street several times a day. These are followed by a replaying of Wild Bill's murder and the infamous trial of his shooter Jack McCall.















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