Top 10 True Western Towns of 2008
Categories: Featured Travel Stories
By: TW Editors 01/02/2008
2. DEADWOOD, SD
Al Swearengen didn’t play fair.
Now that’s not just the depiction of the man on HBO’s late, lamented Deadwood. Nope. The real McCoy was a real piece of work too. Al tricked Eastern women into coming West by promising them jobs and/or husbands—and when they arrived, he forced them to become prostitutes. He and the boys beat the women to keep them in line. He tossed some out when they lost their charms.
That doesn’t even touch on his other swindles and shady activities.
Al did not play fair.
It can be argued that the modern Deadwood has taken a similar approach to historic preservation and tourism.
Back in 1989, the city legalized gambling, with gaming tax revenues going toward protecting the area’s historic resources and enticing folks to visit. It’s a unique strategy that puts Deadwood head and shoulders above practically any Western town you can imagine, at least in terms of financial commitment to preservation and promotion. Last year, the money totaled more than $2.8 million. And well over a million souls came to the town of Bullock and Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane—which has a population of just 1,400. Those are not typos.
The Historic Preservation Commission projects range from the mundane to the magnificent. Old buildings (and streets and retaining walls) need regular maintenance. Work has been done recently on City Hall, the library, the Visitor/Interpretive Center (housed in a restored 1897 train station), city steps and replica historic streetlights. Funds also support the Adams House and the Adams Museum, and the Days of ’76 Museum, which all have some of the best collections of artifacts from Deadwood’s past. Other funds are used to support local events, like the Days of ’76 Rodeo.
Then there’s the $200,000 that bought a collection of Wild Bill items in 2006—the gun the lawman was reportedly wearing when he was gunned down in 1876, letters between Hickok and his family, and original photos of the hanging of his killer Jack McCall. The collection was exhibited this past year to rave reviews.
And a lot of money—more than $500,000—is spent on selling the city to outsiders. That may seem like a lot, but think about it. More people come to Deadwood, they spend more money, including at the gaming halls. And that’s more money for preservation and renovation. It’s tossing good money after good, so to speak. Mr. Swearengen himself would have to respect that logic.
By its history alone, Deadwood is a Top Western Town. But when you toss in the ingenuity and commitment to preservation, well, you’ve got something special.
Because Deadwood doesn’t play fair.
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Trinidad Colorado! Great choice! Thank you TW editors for choosing Trinidad ... now everyone knows what we've known for a long time. And thanks to all the Trinidad folks who helped you gather the information you needed.
As a Native of Colorado, western slope, I appreciated your choosing Durango and Trinidad! Creede (?) don't know that one, but if it's in Colorado it's got to be OK. However, since Denver is no longer a "cow-town" and the City has become a "little L.A.", we now live in Cody, Wyoming, which IS a cow-town. I am glad to see that others are also seeing the beauty in Cody. Talk about ART, some of the best western art is right here with our galleries and, of course, the Buffalo Bill Historical Center.
Plus, we're only 50 miles from Yellowstone National Park - the recreational opportunities are endless including a number of guest ranches. Come see us; and when you decide you want to stay, come see me at Homestead Realty.
Posting above by stjomo is completely toxic. I have restored one of the oldest homes in St Joseph and can tell you the interest from San Diego, California & Los Angeles is quite stimulating. I have had many guest from the California area visit my home and I have taken most of those guest on a tour of St. Joseph, Missouri and they were awed as if they had seen the glory of God. They wanted to get out of our car and take home tours right there on location. They said St. Joseph is like a fairy tail book with castles upon castles.
I have visited San Diego & Los Angeles and found it to be of no comparison though there are some beautiful architectural structures in Balboa Park in San Diego and a couple of other buildings but in St. Joseph it is spread over the better half of town. One of my friends from the west coast stood in my yard extending each of her arms out, grinning from ear to ear saying, "I had to head east to find the gold."
I had some historians from California asking if they could photograph my yard as their ancestors use to own a Victorian boot company here and they told me my home in Los Angeles would cost 1.2 million as they just looked at one like ours.
Some described the homes in our area as jewels they were interested in investing in. Some were amazed that my home was built in 1848 so I showed them the abstract and the blue print of our Princess Ann. They didn't realize that architecture followed the life of Queen Ann so they were thinking all the houses that have cones on the roofs were the oldest and surprised that many of the homes with mansard roofs were actually older as the Queen Ann's were built in the 1860's.
I had one person from California tell me she was originally from Idaho and I ask her if she was familiar with William Ridenbaugh, "No she replied but she mentioned the Ridenbaugh Canal and I told her you are in the home of the Ridenbaugh's and the Ridenbaugh you have mentioned is the son of William Ridenbaugh whom started the St. Joseph News Press and it was his son that build the Ridenbaugh Canal.
My friends from San Diego were surprised to learn that it was seven nuns from Kirksville Missouri that founded their town. They were amazed to learn that some of the most elite of society has come from Missouri and not surprisingly many from St. Joseph.
You will not be disappointed to visit St. Joseph, Missouri as it is totally exciting here, from a photographers point of view. ;>)
So glad to see that Trinidad is finally getting recognized for the historical architecture and scenic beauty that we have enjoyed for years. www.SouthernColoradoRealty.com is a great way to check out real estate listings in the Trinidad, Colorado area.
PROPERTY VIDEOS at www.ranchviews.com
Las Animas County and Trinidad Colorado are great places to live and retire. We came here 9 years ago and found incredible land, lower prices, and taxes so low that they almost don't exist.
The area weather is great with an even four season climate. 82 degree average summer temp and 50 degree average winter temp. It snows and stays around long enough for you to have some hot chocolate and say ahhhh isn't that nice. Then, the snow goes away.
Check out some PROPERTY VIDEOs at www.ranchviews.com
Todd Gatza
Broker
Trinidad Land Realty
719 680 0690
You also forgot to mention that the hanging site of Horn is on the second floor of the original courthouse. Just outside the door to the D.A.'s office
st. Joseph is nothing like the city described in this article. The two preservation societies mentioned have disbanded in frustration. Downtown is a ghost town( not one you would like) and preservation is at an all time low. Yes, there are lovely historic homes, if you want to wear blinkers while you drive by crumbling ruins of amazing homes which abound en route to the few which are treated with dignity. If you spend your money to come see a piece of the Old West, you will be in for nothing but disappointment. Try the other nine cities, and skip St. Joseph. We are too busy destroying our heritage here to bother with tourists.