Best Things to do in Deadwood, South Dakota

The town of Deadwood is a popular spot for people to visit during a Mount Rushmore vacation. Regardless of whether you’re there with your kids or just a couple’s getaway, there’s plenty of things you can enjoy in the Wild West town. There are historic museums, shopping, photo opps, a Wild West shootout and more.

Whether you’re spending an hour or a few days in Deadwood, here’s a rundown of options you can enjoy.

Let’s start with parking in Deadwood. There are some parking spots available on Main Street, but they’re limited. So if you find a spot, consider yourself lucky. After driving around for a little bit, we snagged a spot on the north end of Main Street at the Deadwood Welcome Center. It’s a short walk to Main Street, but it’s free parking. There are some parking lots on and around Main Street, but note that some of those are reserved for hotel guests. Don’t end up parking somewhere and find out you’ve been fined or your car has been towed away.

Wild West Shootout

Main Street erupts daily – except on Sundays – with gunfire as Deadwood Alive reenacts some of the historic shootouts from the towns history. There are three daily performances during the summer (May 22 – Sept 21).

• 2 p.m. The Strange Case of David Lunt
• 4 p.m. Showdown on Gold Street
• 6 p.m. Boone May and Prescott Webb Affray

The mele doesn’t end there. Inside of Saloon No. 10, there’s a reenactment of the historical shooting of James Butler Hickok (a.k.a. Wild Bill) at 1, 3, 5 and 7 p.m.

Trading Posts and Photo Opps on Main Street

Walking up and down Main Street is a treat. There are historic building facades, colorful carved wood statues (like the one photographer above), and other unique photo opps. If you want some selfies in a Wild West background, you’ll have a lot of fun in Deadwood.

There is no shortage of trading posts and souvenir shops on Main Street. Most of the shops are typical of towns like this: t-shirts, shot glasses, fridge magnets, and other little mementos branded with the city. But there are some options that are more than simple souvenir shops. In fact, we were half tempted to purchase some chainsaw art from Dahls on the north end of Main Street. There were small and large pieces that were amazing. Plus, some of them have fun names like Wild Bill’s Trading Post or Madame Peacock’s.

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Beyond trinkets or clothes shopping, you could capture an old fashion family (or couples) photo. Woody’s Wild West Photography lets you put on some western garb and post in a variety of backgrounds. It’s a fun souvenir to bring back home with you to remember your visit to South Dakota and the Wild, Wild West.

Dining and Saloons

After a couple hours of Wild West shootouts and shopping, Deadwood has several options for drinks or dining. You won’t have a tough time finding a saloon or restaurant in which to sit down. But if it’s a particularly busy summer day, you may have to be patient.

There’s variety for just about any palette. Some of the spots along Main Street include:

• Deadwood Pizza Factory
• Mustang Sally’s
• Deadwood Tasty Treats
• The Nugget Saloon
• Eagle Bar and Steakhouse
• Buffalo Bodega Complex

Don’t miss out on Saloon No. 10 to stand where Wild Bill was shot. And if you time your visit right, you’ll be able to see the reenactment of the historic shootout.

Gaming at the Casino

If gaming is your thing (and to be honest and upfront – it’s not mine), then you can step into one of several casinos along Main Street. Many of the casinos are linked to hotels, so if you need lodging, you can look to stay in Deadwood proper. A few of the casinos are also open 24 hours, so you could carry your party late into the night.

Museums in Deadwood

Deadwood offers several historic museums for visitors. They aren’t located on Historic Main Street, but they’re a short drive (or long walk). Here’s a listing and brief idea of each of the museums in Deadwood.

• Days of ’76 Museum Honors the pioneers and settlers who flocked to the area in 1876 looking for gold.
• Adams Museum Captures the history of the Black Hills, from gold nuggets to dinosaur fossils.
• Historic Adams House A historic home built in 1892 and preserved throughout history.
• The Brothel Deadwood Tour a historic brothel and learn about it’s history (this one is on Main Street).

If you like to wander cemetery’s, then you’ll want to wander just outside of town to the Mount Moriah Cemetery. Check out the burial site of Wild Bill and other infamous, historic figures from the Wild West.

There are some other museums that aren’t necessarily in Deadwood, but are worth checking out. We had a great time touring the Broken Boot Gold Mine just south of the city. There’s also the Black Hills Mining Museum in Lead.

Summary

Visiting Deadwood was a lot like wandering through Jackson Hole, Wyoming, near Yellowstone/Grand Teton. There are fun shops to explore, Old Time photos, chainsaw art, dining and of course, unique and historic museums. Plan to spend at least a couple of hours in Deadwood and enjoy stepping back in time to the Wild, Wild West.

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