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

The Legend Begins…

A Trail to Deadwoods Past

Photographed by Sandra Hughes Tidwell, August 20, 2024

1. The Legend Begins... Marker

Inscription.

The Legend Begins…. A Trail to Deadwoods Past. , In the summer of 1876, Martha "Calamity Jane" Canary arrived in Deadwood Gulch, no stranger to this type of environment. Just 20 years old she had made a name for herself in the annuals of the American West. Whether fact or fiction or trials and tribulations. Calamity Jane became synonymous with the Blackhills., Born in 1856 in Mercer County, Missouri, Martha was the oldest of six children born to Robert Willson Canary and Charlotte M. Burge. The Canary Family moved to Virginia City, Montana Territory in 1865 and within two years, the children were orphaned with the passing of their parents. Parentless, Martha relocated to the Wyoming Territory where she worked as a dance hall girl, waitress, laundress, and prostitute at the railroad camps and military posts along the Union Pacific Railroad. By wearing men's clothing, Canary would disguise her gender - this choice in dress would define her persona later in life. Her lifestyle fueled with alcohol is a possible explanation for Canary's fanciful yarns and numerous love affairs including one with western gunfighter, James Butler Hickok., "Calamity Jane" also had a good-hearted, caring, and feminine side not often seen by the public. When the smallpox epidemic hit the Black Hills and Deadwood, she helped people with the illness without concern for her own well-being. Numerous photographs taken throughout her adult life captured her in dresses, something that differed from the Eastern preconceived dime novels., On August 1, 1903, and aged beyond her years, "Calamity Jane" died of a combination of inflammation of the bowels and pneumonia in Terry, South Dakota. She was buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery in Deadwood beside Will Bill Hickok, reportedly her last dying wish., Today this statue, created in 2023 by sculptor Paul Moore of Norman, Oklahoma, depicts "Calamity Jane" when she arrived in Deadwood Gulch during the summer of 1876. The Statue also embodies one of America's great Western legends whose life had a profound influence in shaping the American West.

In the summer of 1876, Martha "Calamity Jane" Canary arrived in Deadwood Gulch, no stranger to this type of environment. Just 20 years old she had made a name for herself in the annuals of the American West. Whether fact or fiction or trials and tribulations. Calamity Jane became synonymous with the Blackhills.

Born in 1856 in Mercer County, Missouri, Martha was the oldest of six children born to Robert Willson Canary and Charlotte M. Burge. The Canary Family moved to Virginia City, Montana Territory in 1865 and within two years, the children were orphaned with the passing of their parents. Parentless, Martha relocated to the Wyoming Territory where she worked as a dance hall girl, waitress, laundress, and prostitute at the railroad camps and military posts along the Union Pacific Railroad. By wearing men's clothing, Canary would disguise her gender - this choice in dress would define her persona later in life. Her lifestyle fueled with alcohol is a possible explanation for Canary's fanciful yarns and numerous love affairs including one with western gunfighter, James Butler Hickok.

"Calamity Jane" also had a good-hearted,

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caring, and feminine side not often seen by the public. When the smallpox epidemic hit the Black Hills and Deadwood, she helped people with the illness without concern for her own well-being. Numerous photographs taken throughout her adult life captured her in dresses, something that differed from the Eastern preconceived dime novels.

On August 1, 1903, and aged beyond her years, "Calamity Jane" died of a combination of inflammation of the bowels and pneumonia in Terry, South Dakota. She was buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery in Deadwood beside Will Bill Hickok, reportedly her last dying wish.

Today this statue, created in 2023 by sculptor Paul Moore of Norman, Oklahoma, depicts "Calamity Jane" when she arrived in Deadwood Gulch during the summer of 1876. The Statue also embodies one of America's great Western legends whose life had a profound influence in shaping the American West.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Settlements & Settlers • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1876.

Location. 44° 22.566′ N, 103° 43.858′ W. Marker is in Deadwood, South Dakota, in

Photographed by Sandra Hughes Tidwell, August 20, 2024

2. The Legend Begins... Marker

Lawrence County. It is at the intersection of Main Street and Deadwood Street, on the right when traveling north on Main Street. In Outlaw Square beside Deadwood's Grandband Stand Marker. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 703 Main St, 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 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: Deadwood’s Grand Bandstand (here, next to this marker); Black Hills Trust and Savings Bank (within shouting distance of this marker); History Buried Beneath Your Feet (within shouting distance of this marker); Waite Block Annex (within shouting distance of this marker); Serving the Black Hills (within shouting distance of this marker); Deadwood's Carnegie Library (about

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300 feet away, measured in a direct line); School District #02 (about 300 feet away); Jack McCall Capture Site (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Deadwood.

Other markers no longer nearby. Generations of Change (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); Ride High, T.C., Ride High (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed).

Credits. This page was last revised on August 29, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 29, 2024, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 270 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 29, 2024, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.