Museum
The Only Museum in the World with a Bar
Step through the doors of Saloon #10, and you ain’t just walking into a bar—you’re stepping straight into the rough-and-tumble past of Deadwood. The walls don’t just whisper—they holler with the stories of Wild Bill, Calamity Jane, and the outlaws, gamblers, and gunslingers who carved their names into history. Some relics have been here since the days when whiskey was cheaper than water, while others were hunted down by the owners’ kin—real history buffs who scoured the frontier for Wild West gold. Locals and drifters alike have tossed their own discoveries into the mix, turning this saloon into more than just a watering hole—it’s a living, breathing, whiskey-soaked slice of Black Hills history.
The Lady in Motion
This isn’t your average picture on the wall. Tucked among Saloon #10’s relics is a rare Old West illusion—a “motion picture” with gears hidden behind the canvas. As the gears turn, the lady’s face appears to shift and change, bringing the image to life. This unique piece is a reminder that out here, things ain’t always what they seem.
Horsing Around
Some traditions never die, and at Saloon #10, “Horsing Around” is one of ‘em. The first version of this legendary photo was snapped in the 1940s, and every decade since, it’s been recreated—same pose, same spirit, different faces. Once, they even tried bringing in a real horse for the shot, but the poor floor wasn’t built for that much horsepower. After some serious jacking and beam-replacing, they stuck to keeping the tradition alive—without the live livestock. Today, “Horsing Around” is more than just a photo; it’s a snapshot of Saloon #10’s wild and rowdy legacy.
Photos Courtesy of Deadwood History, Inc., Adams Museum Collection.
Some traditions never die, and at Saloon #10, “Horsing Around” is one of ‘em. The first version of this legendary photo was snapped in the 1940s, and every decade since, it’s been recreated—same pose, same spirit, different faces. Once, they even tried bringing in a real horse for the shot, but the poor floor wasn’t built for that much horsepower. After some serious jacking and beam-replacing, they stuck to keeping the tradition alive—without the live livestock. Today, “Horsing Around” is more than just a photo; it’s a snapshot of Saloon #10’s wild and rowdy legacy.
Photos Courtesy of Deadwood History, Inc., Adams Museum Collection.
Wild Bill’s Death Chair
Truth, legend, or a bit of both—Wild Bill’s death chair is one relic that keeps folks talking. When the family took over Saloon #10, the chair was already there, insured by none other than Lloyd’s of London. But is it the chair? Some say Calamity Jane swiped it and kept it hidden away in a nearby town. Lew Keehn figured that if some quick-thinkin’ soul salvaged it in 1876, they might’ve had to make a hard call when faced with a Dakota blizzard—save the chair or save their own hide. Whether it’s the real deal or just another piece of frontier folklore, one thing’s for sure: the stories are as unkillable as Wild Bill’s legend.
