Deadwood in Lawrence County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

First Deadwood Gold Discovery

Photographed by Connor Olson, October 6, 2021

1. First Deadwood Gold Discovery Marker

Inscription. Near this point in 1875 occurred the first of two initial gold discoveries in the Deadwood area. The more accepted account of the discovery states that in late August; 1875 a party consisting of Frank Bryant, John B. Pearson, Thomas Moore, Richard Low, James Pierman. Sam Blodgett, and George Hauser- located gold deposits here paying twenty to forty cents to the pan and built a cabin. Bryant and a party left to prospect other areas, then returned in early November. On November 8, 1875, Bryant, Henry Coder and William Cudney staked out “Discovery Claim" just east of the cabin built in August, at the mouth of Spruce Gulch. By January 1, 1876, 50 miners were working Deadwood Gulch with an average take of $10 per day. and on January 5 the entire gulch was occupied by mining claims. Thus the Deadwood gold rush began in 1875. Residents, however, celebrate the Days of '76 because the city of Deadwood was laid out by April 26, 1876, and because the great rush of miners into Deadwood came, in the spring of 1876. By August, 1876 combined digging and building had produced a city resembling a “heap of lemon boxes propped

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up on broomsticks." In the century since 1876 the Deadwood - Lead mining district has produced gold estimated at over $800,000,000.

Erected 1976 by Lawrence County Historical Society; South Dakota Department of Transportation; South Dakota State Historical Society. (Marker Number 465.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the South Dakota State Historical Society Markers series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1875.

Location. 44° 23.153′ N, 103° 43.058′ W. Marker is in Deadwood, South Dakota, in Lawrence County. It is at the intersection of Crescent Drive and 76th Drive, on the left when traveling south on Crescent Drive. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Deadwood SD 57732, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West River.

It is also in the American Black Hills,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

on the prairies,

and on the Northern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds

Photographed by Connor Olson, October 6, 2021

2. First Deadwood Gold Discovery Marker

itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Placer Claim No. 2 above Discovery (approx. 0.2 miles away); Deadwood’s Boy Scout Tree Project (approx. ¼ mile away); Elizabethtown (approx. half a mile away); Wild Bill Hickok (approx. half a mile away); Wong Family Legacy (approx. 0.6 miles away); Louie's Chicken Hut (approx. 0.6 miles away); Chinatown (approx. 0.6 miles away); Historic Facade Replication (approx. ¾ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Deadwood.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 4, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 6, 2021, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 922 times since then and 109 times this year. Last updated on November 4, 2021. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 6, 2021, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.