
Explore the Wild West
Wild West Adventure Game
Choose your role and navigate through historical scenarios in this immersive choose-your-own-adventure experience.
Wild West Persona
Create your own Wild West character with our AI-powered persona generator.
MrDeadwood Saloon Experience
Visit our virtual saloon to play games, win rewards, and experience Wild West culture.
Explore the Wild West
Wild West Stories
Wild Bill Hickok's Last Hand
Wild Bill arrived in Deadwood seeking fortune, but met his fate holding the infamous 'Dead Man's Hand' in a saloon poker game.
Read MoreCalamity Jane's Ride
Calamity Jane, famed for her daring spirit, once rode through a blizzard to deliver medicine to the sick miners of Deadwood.
Read MoreThe Great Gold Rush
In 1876, gold was discovered in Deadwood Gulch, drawing thousands of hopeful prospectors and changing the Black Hills forever.
Read MoreLakota Legacy: The Black Hills and the Great Sioux Nation
Long before Deadwood, the Black Hills were sacred to the Lakota Sioux, whose history and culture remain central to the region.
Read MoreDeadwood's Chinatown: A Community of Hope and Hard Work
In the late 1800s, Chinese immigrants built a vibrant community in Deadwood, contributing to the town's culture and economy.
Read MoreThe 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie
A landmark agreement between the United States and the Lakota Sioux, the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie recognized the Black Hills as part of the Great Sioux Reservation, until gold was discovered.
Read MoreCrazy Horse: Lakota Warrior and Leader
Crazy Horse, a legendary Oglala Lakota leader, fought to defend his people and the Black Hills, becoming a symbol of resistance and honor.
Read MoreLakota Life in the Black Hills
For generations, the Lakota people thrived in the Black Hills, guided by deep spiritual traditions, community, and respect for the land.
Read MoreDeadwood Timeline
- ðŠķPre-1700sIndigenous Nations in the Black HillsThe Black Hills, or Paha Sapa, have been sacred to many Indigenous nations for thousands of years, including the Lakota, Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Kiowa. The region served as a spiritual center, a site for vision quests, and a neutral ground for intertribal gatherings and trade.
- ðđ1776Lakota Settle in the Black HillsThe Lakota Sioux, after migrating westward, established a strong presence in the Black Hills. They displaced other tribes and made the region central to their spiritual and cultural life, holding annual Sun Dances and ceremonies honoring the land.
- ðšïļ1803Louisiana PurchaseThe United States acquired the Louisiana Territory, including the Black Hills region, from France. This set the stage for future conflicts as American expansion moved westward, eventually leading to the displacement of Native American tribes from their ancestral lands. The U.S. did not consult the Indigenous nations who lived there.
- ðĪ1851First Treaty of Fort LaramieThe U.S. government and several Plains tribes, including the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho, signed the first Treaty of Fort Laramie. The treaty recognized vast territories for each nation, including the Black Hills for the Lakota, but was soon violated by settlers and gold seekers.
- ð1868Second Treaty of Fort LaramieThe United States and Lakota Sioux signed the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie, recognizing the Black Hills as part of the Great Sioux Reservation. This sacred land, known as Paha Sapa, was guaranteed to the Lakota people in perpetuity. The treaty established the Great Sioux Reservation, including all of present-day South Dakota west of the Missouri River.
- âïļ1874Custer Expedition Violates TreatyLieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer's expedition entered the Black Hills in violation of the 1868 treaty. The discovery of gold in French Creek sparked a rush of prospectors, leading to the first major violation of the Fort Laramie Treaty. Custer's report of 'gold from the grass roots down' triggered a stampede of miners into the region, disregarding Lakota sovereignty.
- ðŠ1876Battle of the RosebudLakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors, led by Crazy Horse, fought U.S. forces at the Battle of the Rosebud in Montana Territory. This battle, just days before Little Bighorn, was a significant Native victory and demonstrated the strength and unity of the Plains nations defending their lands.
- âïļ1876Battle of Little BighornThe Lakota Sioux and their allies, led by Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull, defeated Custer's 7th Cavalry at the Battle of Little Bighorn. This victory, known as the Battle of the Greasy Grass to the Lakota, was a turning point in the Indian Wars, but was followed by increased military pressure and loss of land.
- ð1877Black Hills Annexed by U.S.Despite treaty guarantees, the U.S. government seized the Black Hills from the Lakota after gold was discovered. The Lakota refused to accept compensation, and the loss of the Black Hills remains a central grievance and subject of legal battles to this day.
- ðïļ1890Ghost Dance and Wounded KneeThe Ghost Dance spiritual movement spread among the Lakota as a response to loss of land and culture. The U.S. Army's attempt to suppress the movement led to the Wounded Knee Massacre, where over 250 Lakota men, women, and children were killed. This marked a tragic end to the Indian Wars and had lasting effects on Native communities.