Wild Bill Hickok Grave

Instantly becoming a popular tourist attraction after his burial in 1876, Wild Bill Hickok's grave has since attracted millions of tourists to Deadwood, South Dakota. Wild Bill Hickok is just one of the many well known historical figures who are laid to rest at the Mount Moriah Cemetery. Calamity Jane lies next to Wild Bill, while Seth Bullock and Dora Dufran are buried nearby. Whether or not you are familiar with the names of those buried at the Mount Moriah Cemetery, you'll be in the presence of what Wild West legends and myths are made of.

Born in 1837 as James Butler Hickok, Wild Bill earned his nickname with his expert gunman skills. He became widely known throughout the West after he single-handedly captured the McCanles gang. Wild Bill Hickok eventually became an army scout and then professional gambler. From 1872-1873, Wild Bill Hickok tour 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. Circumstances surrounding his death are debatable; some claim he was killed in revenge for a dispute earlier that day, while others claim a hit man was hired to abruptly end his life.
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 when 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