Wild Bill Hickok’s Grave
Born in 1837 as James Butler Hickok, Wild Bill earned his nickname with his expert gunman skills and became widely known throughout the West after being his shootouts with the McCanles gang and other outlaws. After serving as a stagecoach driver and lawman, he eventually became an army scout and a professional gambler. From 1872-1873, Wild Bill Hickok toured with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show where he befriended Calamity Jane. While passing through Deadwood, South Dakota, Hickok stopped by Nuttall and Mann’s Saloon to play a hand of poker. He met his death in the saloon by a bullet to the back of his head and has remained in Deadwood ever since.
Wild Bill Hickok’s original wood grave marker read: “Wild Bill J.B. Hickok killed by the assassin Jack McCall in Deadwood Black Hills, August 2nd 1876. Pard, we will meet again in the happy hunting ground to part no more. Good Bye, Colorado Charlie, C.H. Utter.” It wasn’t until 1879 that Calamity Jane convinced Hickok’s good friend Charlie Utter to relocate Hickok’s body to Mount Moriah Cemetery. Today, Hickok lies in a 10 foot square grave surrounded by an iron fence, with an American flag buried in it.
2 Mt. Moriah Drive, Deadwood, SD 57732
