The Story
The Days of '76 grew out of celebrations inspired by Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show, rooted in Deadwood since the mid-1920s, and has become one of the longest-running rodeos in the country. Its committee has been named PRCA Rodeo Committee of the Year 19 times, it was inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2011, and it earned a 2025 nomination as a top-5 PRCA Large Outdoor Rodeo. The accompanying Days of '76 Museum, run by Deadwood History, Inc., preserves the antique horse-drawn wagons, carriages, and stagecoaches still used in the event's two annual parades.
Surprising Facts
→ Its roots trace to a c.1922 celebration inspired directly by Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show.
→ It was inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2011.
→ The museum preserves the actual antique horse-drawn parade vehicles still used each year.