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
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 up on broomsticks."
In
this page online
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. Marker 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.
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); Chinatown (approx. 0.6 miles away); Historic Facade Replication (approx. ¾ mile away); Historic Site Saloon Number 10 (approx. 0.8 miles away); Chinese Immigrants (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Deadwood.
Related marker.
Photographed By Connor Olson, October 6, 2021
2. First Deadwood Gold Discovery Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on November 4, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 6, 2021, by Connor Olson of Kewaskum, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 220 times since then and 125 times this year. Last updated on November 4, 2021. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 6, 2021, by Connor Olson of Kewaskum, Wisconsin. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
