Passion for the Past

Discover Deadwood's Cowboy and Indian History

The history of the Days of ’76 is really a history of Deadwood from 1923 onward. The Days of ‘76 Celebration, which began in 1923 as a way to honor Deadwood’s early history, has become an historic event in its own right, with important archives and artifacts that needed to be protected and preserved.

In recognition of our efforts we were recently awarded a $10,000 grant from the History Channel.

The museum is open to the public six months a year, and attracts thousands of visitors from the United States and foreign countries. The collections on display - the carriages, rodeo photographs and artifacts, costumes and the vast and diverse Clowser Collection - help visitors and residents alike understand and appreciate our history, and, indeed, the important role this area played in the development of our country.

The Days of '76 Museum is a "collection of collections", including one of the country's most impressive assemblages of vintage horse-drawn vehicles. Over eight decades of the Days of '76 Celebration generated countless photographs and memorabilia, which along with historic clothing formerly worn in the parade, comprise the Rodeo Collection. The crown jewel of the museum is the Clowser Collection of Old West pioneer and American Indian art and artifacts, representing two continents, twenty tribes and thousands of years of history.

Photographs and artifacts from the museum collections