Our epic road trip from Minnesota to Yellowstone National Park and back included a stop at the cemetery where Will Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane are laid to rest. We were on the way from a stop at the Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming to Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. For a stretch break and to fit in one more neat thing to see on the way home (also, John kinda likes taking pictures that are a little creepy when you see them in black and white), we paid a visit to a couple of the legendary figures from the days of the Wild West.
The Mount Moriah Cemetery was established in 1878 in Deadwood, South Dakota. The cemetery feels very historic, walking among the gravestones bearing the familiar names of the legends of the past. From the children’s section of the cemetery, marking the graves of children who died from diseases such as smallpox and scarlet fever, to Potter’s field, to the ornate gravestones, there is quite a bit to see when you stop for a stroll around the graveyard. An overlook of the downtown of the city of Deadwood can also be seen from the cemetery.
Wild Bill Hickok was an iconic gunslinger in the Wild West. He served in the Civil War, fought a bear and survived, and served as a peace officer. He was shot in the back of his head by Jack McCall while playing poker. The cards he held in his hand are now known as the “dead man’s hand” (ace of spades, ace of clubs, eight of spades and eight of clubs with an undefined fifth card).
Calamity Jane was one of the most well known women in Wild West history, known for being a friend to Wild Bill, and requesting to be buried next to him. Her funeral was one of the best attended funerals for a woman that had been held in Deadwood at that time.
If you find yourself in Deadwood, the cemetery gives you a glimpse into the Wild West’s past along with a little history lesson. Thanks for stopping by our blog! See ya at the next stop!
