In case you missed it, America constantly has eyes on the Mount Rushmore State, thanks in part to our many attractions and fascinating history. This summer, South Dakota was recognized by yet another national publication, this time for having one of the best historic small towns in America. Let’s see which they chose:

In the running for USA Today's "Best Historic Small Town" (classified as towns that "have big histories and small populations – fewer than 30,000 people as of the last census") was no other than delightful Deadwood, South Dakota!
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Founded in 1876, the entire city of Deadwood is classified a National Historic Landmark District, thanks to its incredible Gold Rush-era buildings that are still standing today.
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How did Deadwood come to be? After several years of disputes between the Lakotas (who were granted the land, thanks to the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie) and white settlers, Colonel George Armstrong Custer (pictured on the left) announced the discovery of gold in the nearby Black Hills, which triggered the migration of thousands of miners to the area.
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As more settlers trickled in, so did businesses, with the original economy booming thanks to illegal gambling and prostitution, but quickly leveling out with the switch from gold panning to deep mining.
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Today, Deadwood pays homage to its roots in a number of different ways, including exciting casinos...
Deadwood
This time around, gambling is not illegal, but still just as fun! (Pictured is Cadillac Jack’s Gaming Resort, which has 16 game tables and more than 200 slot machines.)
...tours of the old mines...
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The best way to experience the old mines? By candlelight, of course, which is exactly what you will find at the Broken Boot Gold Mine!
...and delicious food and brews!
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Wet your whistle at one of Deadwood's dozens of bars and saloons, including the Buffalo Stockade, Saloon #10 Bar, and Knuckle Saloon.
To discover even more things to do in Deadwood, visit the Deadwood Historic Preservation Commission's website.
Flickr/dconvertini

During your visit to Deadwood, make sure to check out This One Of A Kind Restaurant In South Dakota Is Fun For The Whole Family!

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