23 Best Sights in Deadwood and Around, Mt. Rushmore and the Black Hills

A tour of the restored Adams House includes an explanation of the tragedies and triumphs of two of the community's founding families (the Franklins and the Adamses) who lived here. The 1892 Queen Anne–style mansion was closed in the mid-1930s and sat empty for more than 50 years, preserving the original furniture and decor that you see today.

Between the massive stone-block post office and the old railroad depot, there are three floors of displays at the Adams Museum, including the region's first locomotive, photographs of the town's early days, and an exhibit featuring Potato Creek Johnny's Gold Nugget, the second-largest nugget ever discovered in the Black Hills. The Adams Museum is affiliated with Deadwood History, Inc., which also oversees the Days of '76 Museum, the Historic Adams House, and a cultural center and archives.

You're guaranteed to find gold on a panning experience here. If you take the short, guided, underground mine tour, you'll also get a souvenir stock certificate. Tours begin every 30 minutes from the small surface buildings perched on the hillside.

Days of '76 Museum began almost by accident as the horse-drawn carriages and stagecoaches used in the namesake annual event's parade became an attraction in their own right. Over the years, cowboy memorabilia, photographs, and historical clothing have been added to the collection. The Days of '76 celebration, commemorating the 1876 gold rush, is held each July with a professional rodeo, parade, and other events.

Focusing on a region now covered by five states—the Dakotas, Wyoming, Montana, and Nebraska—this center features artifacts such as a Deadwood-Spearfish stagecoach. Outdoor exhibits include a log cabin, a one-room schoolhouse, and, in summer, an entire farm set up with antique equipment. Often on the calendar are cowboy poetry, a cowboy supper and show, live music, and historical talks.

Beginning in Deadwood and running the length of the Black Hills, the Mickelson Trail incorporates more than 100 converted railroad bridges, four tunnels, and 15 trailheads along its 109-mile-long course. Although the grade is seldom steep, parts of the trail are strenuous. A $4 day pass or $15 annual pass are available at self-service stations along the trail, some state park offices, and from the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks. A portion of the trail is open for snowmobiling in winter.

Mount Moriah Cemetery, on a high spot known as Boot Hill, is the final resting place of Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, and other notable Deadwood residents. The aging landmark was revitalized by extensive restoration work in 2003, including the addition of a visitor center that houses a leather Bible, a stained-glass window, and pulpit chairs from the town's old Methodist churches. From the top of the cemetery, you'll have the best panoramic view of the town.

The easiest way to get from Deadwood to Rapid City is east through Boulder Canyon on U.S. 14A. However, it's worth looping north and taking the long way around Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway, on this 20-mile scenic route past 1,000-foot limestone cliffs and some of the most breathtaking scenery in the region. Cascading waterfalls quench the thirst of quaking aspen, gnarled oaks, sweet-smelling spruce, and the ubiquitous ponderosa pine. The canyon is home to deer, mountain goats, porcupines, and mountain lions. Near its middle is the old sawmill town of Savoy, a jumping-off point for scenic hikes to Spearfish Falls and Roughlock Falls. In fall, changing leaves rival any found in New England.

A heroic-scale bronze sculpture of three Native Americans on horseback driving 14 bison off a cliff is the centerpiece of Tatanka: Story of the Bison, on a ridge above Deadwood. The attraction, owned by Dances with Wolves star Kevin Costner, also includes an interpretive center; Lakota guides explain Plains Indian life circa 1840.

Artifacts of regional ranchers and pioneer families are showcased in this museum's interpretive exhibits. You can see historical photos and items from the everyday life of 19th-century homesteaders, such as saddles, branding equipment, dolls, clothing, and dinnerware. The museum occupies a spacious building near the bank of the Belle Fourche River. The grounds include a relocated gold-rush cabin and a monument celebrating the Belle Fourche area's distinction as the geographic center of the United States (when Hawaii is included).