In a way Deadwood, South Dakota, is a tribute to American ingenuity. The Comfort Inn host in Hill City wouldn't think so, but the town has managed to recreate itself and survive. Tour buses clattered down bricked Main Street, pulled up to Saloon #10 where Wild Bill Hickok was shot and let the senior citizens out to explore the storefront casinos. Even though it is almost all gambling oriented, the town has survived. 
Andy reminisced, "When we were here at least thirty years ago, we drove right through and didn't even stop. There wasn't much left of Deadwood back then."
Tonight the Innkeeper commented, "The true South Dakotans are disappointed with what has happened in Deadwood. It's all gambling. The elderly climb down from the bus, wave their social security checks and go back home with nothing. We have lost the history of the old mining town of the Wild West."
The building fronts remain, and a real history buff--ignoring the tour buses and clink of slot machines--could come away with the spirit of the past. And because of the gambling, Deadwood is still alive, no matter how you cut the cards.
Lead (pronounced "LEED"), South Dakota, was our next stop and what is left of the Homestake Gold Mine, a 124-year run that added to the fortune of William Randolph Hearst. Even though the employees pulled out the last ton of ore on January 18, 2002, the mine still stands high above everything else in town. It will probably be there long after the town. In fact, one sign explained that various sections of the town were swallowed by the mine; one section of Main Street plunged 300 feet down when land underneath collapsed. But history does live, and it's fun to see it.
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