Deadwood - Where are you, Kevin Costner?

Friday, July 12, Day 81, Cont'd

Only a few miles from Sturgis is Deadwood.  This was actually more of what I would consider a western town to look like.  It started out in the 1870's as a result of the gold rush.  The town was illegally established in Indian territory and brought in booze and brothels to serve the local miners.  At its peak, the town held about 5,000 . 

Gold Mining turned to  steady mining and then many years of decline.  Fires  and smallpox devastated the town.  The last brothel was shut down in the 1980's!  Then in stepped people like Kevin Costner and the gambling interests.  Today, Deadwood has a lot of tourism based on its casino's.  So, I guess Deadwood is still Deadwood, just a more modern version!  It now has about 2700 residents.   It did have lots of interesting shops and restaurants.  It looked like an fun place to explore.

Incidentally, Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane are buried at Deadwood, along with other  notorious gunslingers too many to mention!

We went over a pass just outside Deadwood, and noticed that the trees are being devastated by pine beetles.  It is such a terrible sight.  Warmer weather causes them to survive and it has been getting warmer in these northern areas, so they are affected.

We are glad we went back to see Sturgis and Deadwood.