More than two decades ago a fire ravaged downtown Deadwood.
The Syndicate fire destroyed a nearly 100 year-old-building and a neighboring structure before firefighters could put it out.
While the fire devastated Main Street it also sparked the idea of legalized gambling, and the money it would generate, to bring the struggling town back to life.
This week Deadwood will celebrate its 20th anniversary of gaming.
It's a town where slots, poker, and black jack can be played 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. But before the lights and sounds of gambling, Deadwood was plagued with empty store fronts and seasonal tourism.
George Milos, from the Deadwood Chamber of Commerce, said, "Deadwood has always been a town full of history and it was back in the 80's. The tourism we had was very seasonal. It was June, July, August. During the winter months we relied on skiers and snowmobilers."
Throughout its history Deadwood has been plagued with fires, but the Syndicate fire in 1987 was the last straw. The devastating blaze sparked a movement by the 'You Bet' committee to bring legalized gaming to Deadwood.
According to Milos, "Nobody thought that they could get it done. They didn't think they could get the signatures, let alone get the people of South Dakota to vote for it. But, they traveled the state hundreds of times and spoke to everyone that would listen from schools to Kiwanis clubs, anyone that would listen. They got the signatures, and eventually the vote."
On November 1, 1989, just over a dozen casinos opened their doors to eager gamblers who wagered millions of dollars within the first month.
"That first month or two, it was kind of a mess. Everything was on the up and up. Everything was legal, but it was not what they expected. It was a lot larger than everyone thought it would be," said Milos.
Twenty years later, 1.5 million visitors come through Deadwood every year, stepping up to the tables and slot machines to experience a little piece of what originally made Deadwood infamous.
Kevin Kuchenbecker, Historic Preservation Officer, said, "I think it's key in November we're celebrating 20 years of legalized gaming, but really it's a 133 years of gaming in Deadwood. That lore, that myth, and that reality is what makes Deadwood special."
Monday Deadwood will kick off a week's worth of events in celebration of the 20th anniversary.
At 11:00 a.m., Wild Bill Hickock and other infamous characters will fire guns to mark the start of events.
Deadwood Mayor, Francis Toscana, will read a proclamation.
Monday through Thursday there will be an author series on various topics.
On Friday there will be a social at the Lodge at Deadwood, starting at 6:00 p.m, admission is free and the public is invited to attend.
