Deadwood, South Dakota

Deadwood is located in a valley surrounded by the Black Hills of South Dakota.  We hopped the shuttle from the campground this morning that took us to the center of town.  I was surprised to learn that the main street of Deadwood is lined with one after the other of casinos.  I'm not a gambler, so that held little interest for me.  I suggested we take one of the bus tours of the town, and for $8, we had a one hour narrated tour.  Apparently, Deadwood was quite a wild town in the 1870’s!  There were a lot of saloons and bordellos, after gold was discovered in them there hills.

It’s main claim to fame is that this is the locations where James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok was murdered, in a saloon, in 1876.
The tour included the Mt. Moriah Cemetery, where Wild Bill is buried.  Along side him is the grave of Martha “Calamity Jane” Canary.  Wild Bill died at the age of 39, and Calamity didn’t die for another 27 years, but her final wish was to be buried beside the only love of her life.  Historians seem to think that her claim to be Wild Bill’s sweetheart was a figment of her imagination, but her final wish was granted.  What a woman she was in this rough and tumble wild town!

The picture at the top of this post comes from the cemetery which is located at the top of one of the surrounding hills.
Here’s a shot of my present traveling companions, Pam and Stan, from the same location.  Before we caught the shuttle back to the KOA, we had a discounted lunch buffet at one of the casinos.  It was just okay, and cost $7 each.  Nothing to write home about, though.
We are parked on level two of this four terraced campground.  You can see how we are packed in like sardines!  I guess I’m the only non-white rig here.  :)
  


This is the view of pines and the surrounding hill from the dog run in the campground.  I’m not sure what the flower on the right will turn out to look like.  It seems spring is not as far advanced here in the Black Hills.



We’ll pack up and head out tomorrow morning.  Our plans are to end up in Buffalo, Wyoming, at day’s end.  I hope the trip is not as adventurous as Tuesday’s drive.  :)

Thanks for stopping by….talk to you later,  Judy