Deadwood — Calamity Jane's Forgotten Ledger

Your quest for the ledger begins at 657 Main Street, in front of the Old Style Saloon No. 10. Established in 1876, this saloon was the scene of the event that sealed Deadwood's reputation: the assassination of Wild Bill Hickok. A commemorative bronze chair marks the exact spot of his death. Calamity Jane, who worked there as a barmaid, claimed to have met Hickok there according to her 1891 autobiographical memoirs, adding a layer of mystery to this iconic location within the National Historic Landmark District. It is here that the first pages of the ledger might have been written.

Continue your investigation towards 245 Sherman Street, where the Historic Old Post Office stands. Built in 1877, it is the oldest government building still standing in Deadwood. It served as a post office, federal court, and jail until 1887. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the United States in 1972, this site is a pillar of the administration of the time. The archives it may have housed are valuable clues for locating Calamity Jane's ledger.

Your search then leads you to 80 Sherman Street, to the Deadwood Public Library. Occupying the former Carnegie school building, constructed in 1906 thanks to a $15,000 donation from Andrew Carnegie, it was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1979. This library holds essential local archives, including documents about Calamity Jane and Deadwood's history. It is an ideal place to verify facts and rumors surrounding the figure of Martha Jane Cannary, and perhaps find a reference to the famous ledger.

Explore the Lawrence County Courthouse, erected in 1901 in the Beaux-Arts style at 82 Sherman Street. This building was the scene of the 1904 trial concerning the inheritance of Potato Creek Johnny, a local gold prospector, illustrating the legal stakes of the era. Its 25-meter-high dome, listed on the National Register in 1973, dominates the Deadwood Historic District. The judicial records of this monument could contain information on transactions or disputes involving Calamity Jane, or any mention of her possessions, including a possible account book.

To conclude your immersion in Deadwood's history, head to the Days of '76 Museum, located at 18 Seventy Six Drive. Founded in 1923, this museum celebrates the historic Days of '76 rodeo and exhibits the largest collection of Old West stagecoaches, with 18 vehicles. It also features costumes and artifacts of Calamity Jane from historical reenactments. It is here that you can assemble the last pieces of the puzzle, confronting legends with facts to finally understand the true importance of Calamity Jane's forgotten ledger, and what it reveals about the emblematic figures of this National Historic Landmark.