The Historic Adams House
The meticulously restored 1892 Victorian mansion with original contents chronicles Deadwood’s transition from a raucous mining camp into a prosperous and technologically rich city. The home recounts the triumphs and tragedies of two of Deadwood's founding families. The Queen Anne-style home was built by pioneer businessman Harris Franklin, complete with stained glass windows, thoroughly modern 19th-century plumbing and electricity, hand-painted canvas wall coverings, and telephone service. W.E. Adams purchased the home in 1920, and after his death in 1934, Adams’ second wife, Mary, closed the doors.
The home sat silent for almost 60 years. In 1998, under the direction of the City of Deadwood’s Historic Preservation Commission and the Adams Museum, historic preservation experts painstakingly restored the mansion to its former glory. The home is open daily in the summer when the beautiful gardens are in full bloom.