City Highlight | Deadwood

DEADWOOD DEADWOOD HISTORY, INC.

The partnership between the City of Deadwood and the nonprofi t organization Deadwood History, Inc. (DHI) began more than 90 years ago and is still going strong today. The person responsible for creating this partnership was William Emery Adams: Deadwood pioneer, six-term mayor, successful businessman, and generous civic benefactor.

In 1930, while much of the country was feeling the devastating effects of the Great Depression and concerned about the future, Adams was focusing his attention on the past, specifi cally Deadwood’s remarkable history. He knew if all of the historical artifacts, documents, and fi rsthand stories in the community were not collected, preserved, and shared, they could be lost forever.

With great foresight and encouragement from family and friends, Adams fully funded the building of a state-of-the-art museum to honor Deadwood’s past. When construction was complete, Adams deeded the new facility to the City of Deadwood, stipulating that an independent organization be created to manage the historic collections and day-today operations.

Under this partnership, the city manages and assumes responsibility for the upkeep of the buildings, including the HVAC systems, roof repairs, lawn care, façade appearances, lighting, and more. Deadwood History, Inc.’s responsibility is to give visitors an unforgettable experience, care for thousands of artifacts and archive materials, host quality public programs, and create educational and engaging exhibits.

In 2000, the Historic Adams House, a Queen Anne-style Victorian home built in 1892, was brought into the partnership. The City purchased the house in 1996 and then underwent a meticulous two-year restoration with the intention of providing tours. Realizing the existing partnership with Deadwood History, Inc. worked so well at the Adams Museum, this same arrangement was entered into at the Historic Adams House. For more than 20 years, the architecturally impressive historic home - complete with original furnishings - has been welcoming visitors from all over the world.

Fast forward to the year 2011 when another property was added to the partnership. The Homestake Adams Research and Cultural Center houses more than 20,000 cubic feet of the fi nest archival materials documenting the history of Deadwood and the Black Hills. It also hosts an impressive array of educational, entertaining, and engaging public programs for community residents and visitors.

Just one year later, in 2012, the partnership grew again when the Days of ’76 Museum offi cially began greeting visitors from all over the country to the impressive new facility. This property was built to house an extensive and

WILD BILL STAUTE

THE BROTHEL DEADWOOD

valuable collection of animal-powered vehicles that are the main attraction in the annual Days of ’76 Celebration. It also houses an impressive array of pioneer, Native American, and celebration memorabilia.

The most recent enterprise between the two entities is The Brothel Deadwood, located on the second fl oor of a former brothel that operated on Deadwood’s Main Street. The Brothel Deadwood tells the 104-year history of prostitution and the brothels in Deadwood, which until now was an often underrepresented and misrepresented part of Deadwood’s history. It is a unique, adaptive reuse of a Main Street historic building whose second fl oor sat vacant and ignored for more than 40 years.

With this unique and long-lasting partnership, the City of Deadwood and Deadwood History, Inc. have raised historic preservation standards. ■

HISTORIC ADAMS HOUSE

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