Capital Campaign News

Silverado-Franklin Commits $25,000 to Days of ’76 Museum Campaign

06/03/08

DEADWOOD – The Silverado-Franklin Historic Hotel & Gaming Complex has joined the growing list of donors to the Days of ‘76 Museum Capital Campaign. The Deadwood firm has committed $25,000 to the campaign.

Tom Rensch, managing partner of the Silverado-Franklin, said the hotel and gaming complex has been a longtime supporter of the Days of ’76 Rodeo. Contributing to the museum’s capital campaign is a natural extension of that support, he said.

“The Days of ’76 Museum will become one of this community’s outstanding visitor attractions,” Rensch said. “Supporting this campaign is just one important way in which the Silverado-Franklin continues to back the town of Deadwood and play a critical role as a good neighbor.”

The Days of ’76 Committee is in the midst of a $6 million campaign to fund construction of a new museum complex, including a 32,000-square-foot main building, next to the Days of ’76 Rodeo grounds. The museum is home to several key pieces of Western and Native American history, but its existing museum facility is inadequate to properly preserve and exhibit the collections.

Rensch noted that the Silverado-Franklin has made a significant investment in recent years in renovating the historic Franklin Hotel, one of Deadwood’s premiere landmarks. By improving the Days of ’76 Museum, visitors will have another reason to stay in town longer and to gain a greater understanding of our collective past, he said.

“We’re committed to the historic preservation of Deadwood, and we have been since day one. Everyone at the Silverado-Franklin is extremely excited about the scope of this museum’s collections and we wanted to play a major role in preserving, displaying and interpreting these fascinating artifacts, photographs and vintage coaches,” Rensch said.

The Days of ’76 Museum has more than 50 horse-drawn wagons, stagecoaches and carriages. It also houses the Clowser Collection of Old West pioneer artifacts, antique firearms and American Indian artifacts. The museum has an historic clothing collection and serves as the repository for photos and memorabilia preserving the 85-year history of the Days of ’76 Celebration.

The Days of ’76 Celebration is the oldest continuing attraction in Deadwood. It began in 1923 with a parade and rodeo. The museum started out as a storage barn for the horse-drawn wagons used in the parade. Over the years, the museum’s role has evolved as more collections, artifacts and archives were added.

The new museum complex will also include a 6,300-square-foot storage facility and upgrades to the Days of 76 Campground. The City of Deadwood and Deadwood Historic Preservation launched the campaign with a $3 million gift.

Others have made significant contributions to date, including the Adams Mastrovich Family Foundation, Black Hills Corp., First Gold Hotel and Casino, First Western Bank, Cadillac Jack’s Casino, the Gold Dust, Knology, Save Our History/The History Channel, the Days of ’76 Committee, the Days of ’76 Museum Board, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Bush Foundation, South Dakota Arts Council, the Costume Society of America, the Allied Arts Fund, The History Channel, Wells Fargo Bank, American Express, Montana-Dakota Utilities, the Adelstein Family Foundation, the South Dakota Humanities Council, the South Dakota Community Foundation, A. G. Trucano Sons & Grandsons, Deadwood Gulch & Casino, Dodge, the Elks Lodge No. 508 in Deadwood, anonymous foundations, individual Deadwood residents and TDG Communications.

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For more information:

Kristi Wagner, 717-6333 or kristi_wagner@rushmore.com