History and Timeline of Deadwood, South Dakota

The town of Deadwood is located in a western region of South Dakota called the Black Hills. The original settlement was formed due to the discovery of gold in the narrow canyon they call the Deadwood Gulch. An immense amount of dead timber that filled the gulch was how the name came to be.


Timeline:

1833
The first recorded discovery of gold in the Black Hills by a party of seven adventurers from Laramie

1834
The Laramie party was destroyed by Indians residing near Deadwood

1854 (June)
A geologist - Dr. Ferdinand V. Hayden began an exploration to Bear Butte (East of the Black Hills)

1857
Dr. Ferdinand V. Hayden accompanied Lieutenant Governor K. Warren in passing through the Black Hills and up to Bear Butte

Exploration was put to a halt until 1874.

1861
Seven southern states secede from the union in February. Lincoln declares any secession "legally void" and refuses to recognize the Confederacy. The American Civil War begins in April.

During the war George Armstrong Custer distinguishes himself as brave, aggressive, and lucky, rising to the temporary rank of brigadier general.

1865
The Union wins the civil war through vastly superior industrial capacity, a successful naval blockade, better rail infrastructure, and numerical superiority.

1866 - 1873
A railroad building boom in the United States, highly subsidized and highly speculative.

The end of the boom coincides with a constriction of the money supply. A series of layoffs and bank failures ensues. This is the beginning of a depression that will last until 1879.

1873 (August)
Custer is sent to the Dakota Territory to protect a railroad survey from the Sioux.

1874 (July)
Custer entered the Black Hills with his troops and group of scientists to confirm the presence of gold near the city of Custer upon the French Creek

This exploration was recorded and published in a report by chief engineer - Captain William Ludlow

A treaty had to be negotiated with the Lakota-Sioux tribe that occupied the Black Hills before any gold minors could move into the canyon

1874 (Autumn)
Excited gold hunters entered the Black Hills territory despite the militaries efforts to keep them out.

1875 (September)
The government attempted to negotiate a treaty with the Lakota-Sioux but failed to reach an agreement.

Opposition to letting minors in the Black Hills region was then withdrawn by the military and approximately 15 000 of them assembled near Custer.


1875 (November)
A party consisting of Dan Meckles, J.B. Pierson, Joe Ingoldsby, William Gay, William Laudner, Ed McCay, James Mayer, Harry Gammage, and old man Haggart arrived at Deadwood Gulch and staked off their claims.

Another party from Montana camped near Spearfish and joined in the excavation.

Population of the settlement began to increase rapidly despite the protest of the Indians.

1875 (December)
A meeting was held in which the district was named the ‘Lost Mining District’ and election gave the position of recorder to William Laudner

1876 (January)
Montana City, North and South Deadwood, Fountain City, Chinatown and Cleveland began to create what is now solely the city of Deadwood

1876 (April)
The town was officially laid out, E.B Farnum was elected mayor and a council was chosen

The council was made up of: Keller Kurtz, Sol Star, Frank Philbrook, Joseph Miller and James McCauly, with John A. Swift (city clerk), and Colonel Stapleton (city marshal)

1876 (June)
The town’s first newspaper is published - called the Pioneer

"Bustle and confusion was prevalent everywhere. Each day and almost each hour witnessed the arrival of greater or less parties of gold seekers who, finding some eligible location to corral their wagons or pitch their tents, immediately mixed with the throng and became one of us...” - The Poineer

Saloons quickly multiplied, a hotel, grocery store, liquor store, theatre, and jewelry establishment opened

The town’s first practicing physician, druggist, and law office moved in as well


1876 - 1877
During these years the town was described as a lawless territory where many men had been killed due to frequent quarrels, gambling and generally because shooting had become a common past time

Also in 1876 General Crook - Commander of the Department of the Platte attempted to remove gold hunters from the Black Hills but was defeated by Crazy Horse on the Rosebud River in Dakota

1877 (February)
A treaty was signed and the Black Hills were relinquished - legal status was given to the white population and orderly government and courts were established

1879 (September 26)
A fire broke out starting in Mrs. Ellsnera’s Bakery on Sherman Street and quickly spread to nearby shops where eight kegs of gunpowder destroyed the entire town

300 buildings were demolished and 2000 people left homeless

The citizens of Deadwood began reconstructing the town and this time built out of stone or brick instead of pine logs or flimsy bard structures

1880
Deadwood is now characterized as a city and in a few years following - its mining camp character disappears

1883
A second fire evaporates the town in smoke yet it is once again re-built onto its original site

1890
The Chicago and Northwestern railroad is completed into Deadwood

Late 1980s
The town is found with boarded up storefronts, deteriorating buildings and a community that is slowly vanishing

Deadwood is later restored and becomes one of America’s National Historic Landmarks

Annotated Bibliography:

• "Deadwood," Deadwood S.D. Revealed, December 31, 2007, http://www.deadwood.searchroots.com/deadwood.htm (accessed January 9, 2010).

This webpage tells a chronological story of Deadwood, including two different known versions of its discovery. The author is a self-described "amateur historian." He makes heavy use of descriptive quotes from people who have been to Deadwood (both historically-- during its peak-- and recently). The narrative makes a clear attempt to be unbiased, reporting only facts and first-hand testimony. It is a thorough account of Deadwood, S.D. as a historical site.

• "History", City of Deadwood, September 16, 2009, http://www.cityofdeadwood.com (accessed January 10, 2010).

The history page on the official website for Deadwood, South Dakota. It narrates the town's most active period, between 1876 and 1890. The text is clear and without obvious bias. It tells the well-known story, and introduces Deadwood's transition into the 20th century.

• South Dakota Legends: Deadwood Timeline," Legends of America, January 9, 2010, http://www.legendsofamerica.com/SD-DeadwoodTimeline.html (accessed January 10, 2010).

Legends of America is a website design for "the nostalgic and historic minded"; that is, essentially, enthusiasts of American history. The Deadwood page boasts an incredibly thorough timeline of Deadwood, spanning 1740 to within 10 years of the present. Events directly concerning Deadwood and events that provide context are noted. Some of the facts appear to be anecdotal but even if they are not completely factual, the spirit of Deadwood is well-represented in this timeline.