Deadwood Public Library

We are hunkering down in Deadwood for two nights. For you history buffs, you will remember Deadwood as one of the early “western” towns that developed because of a gold rush. This brought white settlers that took over the Native American’s land. This, of course, left the Natives feeling pushed out and the settlers uneasy so we did as we have always done, used the name of God and Country to wage war against the inhabitants of this territory. Of course, as always, before that we broke our treaty with the Lakota people. So we basically invaded a foreign self-governing nation and slaughtered them. This “victory” opened the way for outlaws to head west and settle here. Major figures during this time were Calamity Jane, Wild Bill Hickok, who was murdered at a saloon in the downtown, and other notable figures. You can even enter the saloon where Wild Bill was murdered, still in operation, and take your picture in the same place of this historical event. I find the whole spectacle of it a bit sickening. I find the history part very interesting, but the glamorizing of an evil past just doesn’t sit well with me. Now I’m done ranting!

We rested this morning, and made arrangements to be shuttled back to our vehicle tomorrow and will then head back north to check out a few more historical sites in the area.

We did take several walks around this small town. It doesn’t take long to see about all there is to see. If one removed the bars/saloons/restaurants and souvenir shops this would certainly be a deadwood town.

Not much else happening in our part of the world.Read more