Gold Rush
The Black Hills Story
edited by John D. McDermott
November 2018
"A neat, little volume on the discovery, exploration, and development of the Black Hills of South Dakota."— Nebraska History
"Based on original research, each of the essays offers new insights into the Black Hills gold rush. The reexamination of some well-known topics and the presentation of new materials by the authors will certainly encourage further research."— Journal of the West
"This collection of essays succeeds in probing more deeply into several aspects of the phenomenon, especially the business and promotion of the gold rush, thus enhancing our understanding of events and engaging our interest as well."— Great Plains Quarterly
Gold Rush explores the business and culture of the gold rush in the Black Hills from the "Days of '76" to the present. Its five essays are full of colorful characters, such as Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, and Colorado Charley Utter, and include eyewitness accounts from the less well-known, such as entrepreneur George Henchel, journalist Leander P. Richardson, and photographer William H. Illingworth.
Contributors discuss the military's role in opening the region to non-Indians; examine the gold rush's continuing influence on agriculture, logging, and tourism in the area; and recreate famous photographs from Custer's 1874 expedition that started it all.
Contributors include: John D. McDermott Harry H. Anderson James D. McLaird Bob Lee Ernest Grafe Paul Horsted
John D. McDermott (1935-2016) was a research historian who wrote numerous articles and books on western history, including Red Cloud's War: The Bozeman Trail, 1866-1868 . He was a former historian for the National Park Service and policy director for the President's Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. McDermott also cofounded the Frontier Heritage Alliance promoting cultural heritage tourism and historic preservation throughout the West.
