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Fort Pierre Deadwood Trail
After gold was discovered in the Black Hills in 1874, many people and much freight “headed for the hills”. One of the shortest and easiest traveled routes went overland from Fort Pierre, the nearest river port, to Deadwood, the epicenter of gold mining. This was a distance of some 200 miles.
From 1874 to 1908, thousands of tons of freight and hundreds of people arrived in Fort Pierre by river boat or railroad destined for Deadwood. From Fort Pierre the freight was loaded on wagons, each train holding up to 20,000 pounds of goods, drawn by teams of up to 20 draft animals, usually oxen. The people rode horses, stagecoaches, or wagons or walked. From Fort Pierre the wagon trains headed west along the route known as the Fort Pierre to Deadwood trail, which followed an old buffalo trail also used by Indians and fur traders. The return trip hauled the mined gold and disappointed, broken, and broke dreamers.
Eventually, the easily accessible gold in the Black Hills was substantially depleted. By 1888, railroads, particularly those running west to Nebraska and then north to the 
southern Black Hill (and eventually west from Fort Pierre in 1908) were quickly making wagon trains obsolete. Settlers farmed and ranched west of the Missouri River and fenced their fields and pastures, making transit on the trail difficult. The final wagon trail trip was completed in 1908. The trail fell into the bone yard of American history. The exact route, which differed over the years depending on weather conditions and forage for the draft animals, was overgrown and largely forgotten.
Interest in the trail has been revived as the 100th anniversary of the closing of the trail approaches. Since the trail was such a major force in US, western and South Dakota political and economic history, an opportunity to recreate a wagon train transit from Fort Pierre to Deadwood is being pursued. The transit is being sponsored by the Verendrye Museum and is being organized by a volunteer committee of citizens from across the western part of South Dakota. The non-motorized wagon train transit is planning on a maximum of 300 participants per day, each traveling either on horseback, by stagecoach, various types of wagons, or on foot. (Since ride badges are transferable on a day by day basis, the total number of participants may approach a thousand.) The trip will take 17 days, which includes 2 rest days. 
There will be a sendoff celebration in Fort Pierre, and a welcoming celebration in Deadwood at the end of the trail. In between, the towns of Hayes, Phillip, Wall and Sturgis are planning events or celebrations. Since the trail route is now privately owned, easements across these lands are necessary to make the trip. All 50 ranchers and land owners have agreed to grant the necessary access, and most are enthusiastically supporting the ride. Logistic support for the animals and riders is being arranged to insure a safe, educational and historical experience. Each morning trailers, vehicles and administrative support will be driven to that evenings camp area. Most camp areas will be remote from electricity and other utilities. Trail riders will then be bussed back to their horses, wagons and stages where they will begin the day’s transit. In the evening, visitors and tourists will be invited to observe the animals and talk to trail riders while camp is established, food is prepared and problem equipment repaired. Speakers, including historians, local landowners, flora and fauna biologists, politicians and other experts will provide educational lectures and displays “around the campfire” in the evening. It is anticipated that several thousand people will view the wagon train while transiting and at camp in the evening. After five days of transit, the entourage will have a day of rest to obtain supplies and conduct other necessary activities. Another day of rest is scheduled after an additional five travel days. The ride will offer an opportunity for residents along the route and other visitors to participate in this historic event. It will be a chance for families to discuss and experience what life on the trail was like. With the Sturgis motorcycle rally occurring in the same timeframe, and the town of Wall very popular with tourists, large crowds of out of state visitors are expected each evening. The Fort Pierre to Deadwood trail ride will offer a unique opportunity to showcase South Dakota while recreating an important slice of our history.
