Wild West’s Illegal Den of Sin—Deadwood, SD

Many old Wild West towns had a—shall we say—seedy reputation. But you’d be hard-pressed to find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy as Deadwood, SD.

The city’s outlaw status began immediately with its founding in the mid-1870s. Deadwood was an illegal town.

It was established on land that the federal government had granted to the Lakota Native Americans. Deadwood had no business popping up where it did, leading to years-long land disputes.

Yet, people kept pouring into town due to the 1874 discovery of gold, which kicked off the Black Hills gold rush. By 1876, there may have been as many as 25,000 people in the area, according to some accounts (although roughly half that is likely a more accurate estimate).

The Broken Boot Gold Mine just outside town lets visitors tour the former mine shafts. It’s a fascinating look into the conditions in which the hopeful miners toiled day after day. In town, Adams Museum and the Days of ‘76 Museum offer further glimpses into Deadwood’s past.