15 Cheap And Free Things To Do In Deadwood, South Dakota
Deadwood serves as the county seat of Lawrence County, South Dakota and is home to around 1,200 residents.
This historic city was founded in 1876 after gold was discovered and named after the dead trees found in its gulch by the early settlers.
It became famous for its lawlessness, gambling, saloons, and gunslinging. Pretty much what everyone thought the wild west was all about. When Wild Bill Hickock was killed during a card game in town it reached even greater notoriety.
The entire town was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961 and serves as a giant tourist spot today for visitors.
Below are some cheap and free things to do during your visit.
Main Street Shootouts: Three times a day, six days a week, gunfights can be seen on Deadwood’s Historic Main Street during the summer.
Four times a day the shooting of James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok is held daily inside Saloon No.10.
These street performances are realistic, fun, and free!
Trial of Jack McCall: This is a reenactment of the impromptu trial of “Crooked Nose” Jack McCall after he murdered James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok. The family-friendly show utilizes members of the audience to participate as extras in the trial.
Tickets are $10 for adults, $6 for ages 5-12, and free for those 5 and under.
Death Chair of Wild Bill Hickok: Saloon #10 is where legendary gunfighter Wild Bill Hickok took his last breath while playing a game of cards. A glass case displaying the chair Wild Bill Hickok was “allegedly” shot and killed in hangs in the bar and can be viewed for free.
They also serve alcohol and you can play poker and blackjack.
Dahl’s Chainsaw Art: This company carves amazing sculptures out of wood and it’s free to look around. They have plenty of opportunities to take pictures with some of their creations including a giant wooden chair.
If interested in buying a piece just ask an employee.
Complete The #WildBillMe Challenge: While exploring historic Deadwood you will see images of Wild Bill Hickok pretty much everywhere. Every time you do snap a selfie with him. The more selfies you take the more prizes you can get.
After getting all your selfies head to one of the visitor centers for your reward. The last prize needs 25 selfies. It’s a fun activity while exploring the town and you get some cool free stuff.
Deadwood Railroad Model Train Display: In the basement of a gift shop on Main Street the Northern Hills Railway Society has constructed an amazing model train exhibit that’s free to see.
Slide a buck into the machine and two trains will run through the display for 10 minutes bringing the diorama to life.
Deadwood Welcome Center: The Deadwood Welcome Center is your one stop shop for all your informational needs on the town. Pick up free brochures with information on local attractions and check out a number of cool exhibits.
Employees are available at the information desk to answer any questions you may have.
Hike The Homestake Trail Above Deadwood: The Homestake Trail is a 5.7 mile out and back trail that follows the old railroad lines and connects the cities of Deadwood and Lead.
It’s a great way to take a break from the town and get out in nature.
There are also trailheads in town for the George S. Mickelson Trail which spans for more than 100 miles north and south through western South Dakota.
Deadwood Mini Golf: Deadwood mini golf is located at the Comfort Inn and Suites Hotel. It is a small and easy 18-hole mini-golf course that’s fun for the whole family.
Tickets are $9 for adults, $8 for ages 5-12, and free for those 4 and under.
The Days Of ’76 Museum: The Days Of ’76 Museum’s main focus is to document the annual Days of ’76 festival and rodeo. They also have a great collection of Old West Pioneer and American Indian artifacts.
The downstairs features more than 50 historic wagons, carriages, and buggies and is very impressive.
Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for ages 6-12, and free for those 5 and under.
Adams Museum: This museum is the oldest history museum in the Black Hills. Its purpose is to preserve and display the history and culture of the Black Hills.
There are a ton of great exhibits and it’s free to visit (donations are appreciated though).
Historic Adams House: The house once belonged to prominent Deadwood citizen W.E. Adams. The home was purchased by the Deadwood Historic Preservation Commission in 1992 and restored as a house museum in 2000.
Tickets are $12 for adults, $5 for ages 6-12, and free for those 5 and under.
Mount Moriah Cemetery: Madam Dora DuFran, Potato Creek Johnny, Preacher Smith, Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, and Seth Bullock are just some of the famous residents of the cemetery.
Tickets are $2 to walk around the cemetery.
Broken Boot Gold Mine: At the Broken Boot, experienced guides take you through guided tours of an abandoned gold mine. They also offer gold panning.
Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for ages 6-17, and free for those 5 and under.
Mount Roosevelt Friendship Tower: Nestled in the Black Hills National Forest above the city of Deadwood you can find the Mount Roosevelt Friendship Tower. The 31-foot stone tower was dedicated to the former president by his good friend Seth Bullock.
The trail is a little less than a mile in length and you can climb the tower all for free.
For more information on anything listed above click on the link for my full post.
You can spend a lot of time just walking around town and checking out all the shops available to purchase souvenirs. There are also a lot of dining options available for visitors.
If you like to gamble a number of casinos offer opportunities to play some cards or you can try your luck at the slots.
During our visits, we have boondocked for free in the Black Hills National Forest above the city at Top Of The Mountain Dispersed Camping. If you prefer hook-ups there are multiple campgrounds in town or your choice of hotels.
South Dakota is one of our favorite states and we love Deadwood and will no doubt be back for future visits.
The town of Lead, South Dakota is only 15 minutes away and has some fun and cheap attractions as well. You can check out my post on Lead here.
