Often hailed as one of the greatest television shows of all time, the gripping Western knockoutDeadwoodepically chronicles all the chaos, corruption, and mayhem that ran rampant in the South Dakota mining town during the 1870s, with the series including both historical facts and fictional elements. Touting a star-studded ensemble led by Timothy Olyphant, Ian McShane, Molly Parker, and Jim Beaver, the HBO classic depicts the tumultuous dynamic between former Marshal Seth Bullock and saloon/brothel owner Al Swearengen in the lawless land.
Throughout the acclaimed show’s three-season run, audiences were given an exciting look at the lives of famous historical figures like Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, and Wyatt Earp, all of whom actually made their way through the uncivilized outpost and interacted with its residents. While theDeadwoodcreators obviously took some creative license for certain characters and storylines, many of the events depicted on-screen were accurate and rooted in truth; let’s check out the engrossing history of Deadwood.
‘Deadwood’ Takes Audiences on a Thrilling Journey Back in Time
In the celebrated Western drama, Marshal-turned-hardware store ownerSeth Bullock (Olyphant)arrives in the anarchic mining town to set up shop with his close friend and longtime business partner Sol Star (John Hawkes), and it doesn’t take long until Bullock finds himself at odds with Al Swearengen (McShane), the cunning proprietor of the Gem Saloon. The series depicts the rivalry and power struggle between the two headstrong men who come from opposite sides of the law, as the justice-seeking Bullock threatens everything Sweargengen has built in the dangerous town.
When legendary gunslinger Wild Bill Hickok (Keith Carradine) makes his way to Deadwood with his close ally and famed frontierswoman Calamity Jane (Robin Weigert), he quickly hits it off with Bullock after they save the life of a young girl. Overthe course of its three seasons, viewers are given a gripping look at the major events that occurred in the town and are shown how violent and unforgiving life on the frontier truly was, with series creator David Milch going to painstaking lengths to accurately portray the town’s sordid history and its many colorful residents.
The Riveting True Story of ‘Deadwood’: A Violent & Lawless Town
Named after the dead trees found in its gulch, the town of Deadwood was officially founded in April 1876 and was tucked inside Sioux territory, which meant that outsiders weren’t able to settle legally on the land.When Lieutenant Colonel George Custer had passed through the area and announced the discovery of gold two years prior, the declaration served as a major catalyst for the Black Hills Gold Rushthat ensued in the Dakota Territory and led to miners flocking to the spot in hopes of striking it big. The arrival of the gold prospectors and entrepreneurs led to the creation of the lawless town, and by 1877, there were roughly 12,000 people settled in the territory.
Amongst the town’s most famous residents were Al Swearengen, who was the proprietor of the Gem Theater saloon and controlled its opium trade; sheriff, U.S. Marshal, and hardware store owner Seth Bullock and his business partner, Sol Star; and E.B. Farnum, the first mayor of Deadwood and the owner of a general store.All of these historical figures are featured in the TV series, as are iconic folk heroes like Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, Wyatt Earp, and Morgan Earp. Kim Dickens' character Joanie Stubbs (the owner of The Chez Amis) is based on real-life Deadwood madam Dora DuFran, while Brad Dourif’s Dr. Amos “Doc” Cochran is a composite character of several physicians.
Aside from accurately depictingthe town’s many unique residents,Deadwoodchronicles major events that occurred during this booming period of time, including the shocking murder of Wild Bill Hickok during a poker game at the hands of Jack McCall. Likewise, Bullock really did become Deadwood’s reluctant sheriff and made sure to bring some law to the area before his family arrived to safely be with him. Swearengen may have been conniving and sharp-tongued in the show, but the real proprietor was far nastier and ruthless when it came to his business and brothel, which might explain why it was burned down three times.
There also really was a smallpox outbreak that ravaged the town in 1876, and Calamity Jane helped care for the infected residents who were in quarantine tents.Wyatt and Morgan Earpvisited Deadwood in search of a fortune that same year, just like newspaper publisher and wealthy mining magnate George Hurst did in 1877, during which he purchased the Homestake Mine in one of the most lucrative gold finds in U.S. history. ThoughDeadwoodmay have embellished a few facts here and there, overall, the Emmy-winning series based much of its storytelling on reality and provided both endless entertainment and a thrilling history lesson all in one fell swoop.
StreamDeadwoodonHBO Max
