Deadwood - Civic Life & History

Museums, Libraries & Archives

Adams Museum

The Adams Museum identities, preserves, collects, interprets, and promotes the history and culture of Deadwood and the surrounding Black Hills for the benefit of members of the Northern Black Hills community, visitors to the area, and researchers. The archives of the Adams Museum include materials related to the Black Hills region and northwestern South Dakota. Photographs and written materials can be accessed from the collection under staff supervision with two days advance notice. Copies may be available depending on copyright issues; fees can be found on the website.  Adams Museum research files may be viewed in the curator's office, and copies will be provided for a minimal fee. Limited research is available for $25 per hour, and other sources of information will be provided whenever possible.

Hours of Operation: (Summer Hours) Monday - Sunday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

(Winter Hours) Tuesday - Saturday 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Closed Sundays, Mondays, Federal and winter holidays

Mailing Address: 54 Sherman St.

Deadwood, SD 57732

Phone: (605) 578-1094

E-mail: amcurator@rushmore.com

Website: www.adamshouseandmuseum.org

City of Deadwood Archives

The mission of the City of Deadwood-Archives, a division of the Historic Preservation Department, is to preserve and interpret municipal, county, and historic records in accordance with historic preservation efforts in Deadwood, South Dakota. The City Archives were established in 1992 with funds generated from limited gaming. In accordance with South Dakota Codified Law, collections owned by the City are open to the general public for research, study, education, and exhibition. The City Archives also provide tremendous assistance in Deadwood's efforts to preserve, protect and promote the city's National Historic Landmark District. The City Archives serves its community by providing assistance and information to the general public through annual history symposiums, publications, educational exhibits, written pamphlets, and assisting in research requests.

Hours of Operation:  Monday-Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Closed weekends and Federal holidays
Mailing Address:  102-108 Sherman St.
Deadwood, SD 57732
Phone: (605) 578-2082
Fax: (605) 578-2084
E-mail: archives@cityofdeadwood.com
Website: www.cityofdeadwood.com

Deadwood Public Library

The Deadwood Public Library serves residents of and visitors to Deadwood and Lawrence County by enriching personal lives, promoting enlightened citizenship, and encouraging lifelong learning. The library's primary purpose is to assemble, preserve, and administer the library collection. The library also serves as a source of reliable information. It collects, preserves and publishes items of local history.  The library is the depository for the Centennial Archives collection of photographs, printed materials, and local historic newspapers. The newspaper collection is available on microfilm and indexed. It can be searched through the South Dakota Library Network. Photographs may be acquired as scans, reproduced from negatives or photocopied. The library staff will provide research assistance and copies of archival material to remote patrons for a fee. The library supports the Library Bill of Rights and the Freedom to Read statement.

Hours of Operation: Monday-Wednesday 10:00 am -8:00 pm

Thursday-Friday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Saturday 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Closed Sundays and Federal holidays

Mailing Address: 435 Williams St.

Deadwood, SD  57732

Phone: (605) 578-2821

E-mail: dwd@sdln.net

Website: www.dwd.sdln.net

Days of '76 Museum

The Days of '76 Museum will open to the public in 2012. Associated with the Days of '76 Celebration, a historic annual parade and a PRCA award-winning rodeo, the museum's exhibits will tell the story of the celebration since it began in 1924. Construction of Deadwood's newest museum will allow the records and photographs of the Days of '76 organization, as well as early Deadwood documents, historic photographs, and materials from the Clowser Collection, to be available to students and researchers for the first time. The library and archives are one component of a planned state of the art western heritage facility that will explore the sport of rodeo, the Days of '76 Celebration, the rodeo cowboy, and the confluence of cultures in Deadwood and the western Black Hills. The oral tradition, an important part of cowboy culture, will be captured through the museum's oral history program and library. The Days of '76 Museum, library, and archives will also provide expanded public programming and educational outreach.

Hours of Operation: Closed for construction. New museum facility is scheduled to open June 2012
Mailing Address
18 76th St.
P.O. ox 140
Deadwood, SD 57732
Phone: (605) 578-1657
E-mail: info@daysof76museum.com
Website: www.daysof76museum.com

Homestake Adams Research and Cultural Center

The Homestake Adams Research and Cultural Center (HARCC) houses over 12,000 cubic feet of archival materials, including the Homestake Mining Company collection and the Frawley legal collection.  These materials document the rich and riveting history of Deadwood, the Black Hills and beyond.  The multifaceted center protects original historic documents in a climate-controlled and secure environment, provides access to materials that have never before been available to the public, offers a range of exciting and engaging public programs,hosts classes for secondary and post-secondary students, and fosters ongoing research and the creation of publications.

Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, Saturdays 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 252
Deadwood, SD 57732
Phone: (605) 578-1928
Fax: (605)578-1194
E-mail: amharchivist@rushmore.com
Website: www.adamsmuseumandhouse.org

Historical Photos and Documents Online

Library of Congress. There are more than 80 historic photographs of Deadwood available throught the Prints and Photographs Department of the Library of Congress. Many were taken by Farm Security Administration photographer Russell Lee in 1937. The collection also includes images made by John Grabil who photographed many important places in the Black Hills in the 1890s.

Digital Library of South Dakota. Some historic images of Deadwood are also included in the online collection of the Digital Library of South Dakota, a project of the state universities in the regental system.

Religion

The community of Deadwood is home to five churches:

First Baptist Church of the Northern Hills.  110 Sherman St.  (605)578-3660.

St. Ambrose Catholic Church.  760 Main St. (605)578-1519.

Historic St. John's Episcopal Church.  405 Williams St. (605)578-2630.

Grace Lutheran Church.  827 Main St. (605)578-2219.

Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall.  20791 76 Ranch Rd. (605)578-2634