Gold Dust Commits $25,000 to Museum Campaign
07/11/08Gold Dust Gaming has committed $25,000 to the Days of ‘76 Museum Capital Campaign. The Deadwood business joins the growing list of private and public contributors stepping up to help build a new home for the museum’s key pieces of Western and Native American history.
“The Gold Dust is proud to continue in the support for many, many non-profit organizations in the Lead and Deadwood area. Because of that commitment, we are more than happy to help with the advancement of the Days of ‘76 Museum as a new and unique addition to our communities,” said Gold Dust General Manager Tom Nelson.
The Days of ’76 Museum Board is in the midst of a $6 million campaign to fund construction of a new museum. The 32,000-square-foot facility will be a modern, climate-controlled building with enough space to properly display the museum collections. The project also includes a 6,300-square-foot storage facility, which was recently completed, and upgrades to the Days of ‘76 Campground.
“The Gold Dust’s commitment to our campaign is extremely encouraging,” said campaign General Chairman Jon Mattson. “Our campaign is gaining momentum, and contributions such as this really help put us closer to our goal.”
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 Native American artifacts and art. 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.
However, the building that houses the collections -- a remodeled pole barn – is not adequate. 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 Silverado/Franklin Hotel, 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, anonymous foundations, individual Deadwood residents and TDG Communications.
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For more information, contact:
Kristi Wagner, 717-6333 or
kristi_wagner@rushmore.com
10/22/08 - Mary Adams’ foundation is among biggest donors 
