Although construction of our new museum building will soon be complete, we still need help to tell our story.

Exhibits. We've worked with exhibit designers Condit Exhibits, to develop a comprehensive design plan. We'll use the museum’s collections in interpretive exhibits exploring the confluence of cowboy and American Indian cultures,  the Days of ’76 Celebration and Rodeo including its connection to Buffalo Bill and his Wild West Show, and the early years of Deadwood in Dakota Territory as the site of the last great gold rush in what is now the continental United States.

Art Walk. At the entrance to the new museum, we plan to install eight bronze sculptures by famed sculpture Tony Chytka honoring the eight National Saddle Bronc Champions from South Dakota. Saddle Bronc is the flagship event in rodeo, and no state boasts more Saddle Bronc champions than South Dakota. The sculptures will be flanked by the  eleven flags awarded by the Pro Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) to the Days of ’76 as best rodeo in its class as of 2010 (and counting!)

Programming. The rear of the museum overlooks the site of historic Montana City, where Whitewood Creek  winds its way east through the Black Hills and onto the prairie at the bottom of Deadwood Gulch, near the location of the initial gold discovery. Nestled in this place will be two outdoor programming area where we intend to hold regular events such as cowboy poetry, Indian Markets, programs of horse culture and horsemanship, blacksmithing, and more. This area accesses an indoor programming area on the lower level of the new museum, where films, presentations, workshops, lectures and meetings will be held. School groups will be a priority for programming in the new museum, and this is where much of the programming for students will take place.  The Days of ’76 Rodeo Arena lies just outside our front door, where we plan to host events such as an all-cowgirl Showdeo, which we intend to grow into an annual celebration.