Much of Seth Bullock's modern renown comes from TV, film, and his friendship with Theodore Roosevelt. But Bullock was much more than the frontier law enforcer portrayed in fictional accounts. In Seth Bullock, David Wolff examines the life work of Bullock as he helped build Deadwood, found the town of Belle Fourche, and promote the Black Hills.

The original weird history book of the Black Hills, this tourist favorite contains over fifty zany but true tales of the Old West.

Deadwood, 1876: a notorious little mining town in modern-day South Dakota that was a hive of criminal activity.

Includes biographical information on 4,500 individuals associated with the frontier

Once vital to fire prevention and detection, most of the Black Hills National Forest historic lookout towers now serve primarily as hiking destinations. The first crude lookout structures were built at Custer Peak and Harney Peak in 1911. Since that time, more than 20 towers have been constructed in the area. The first lookout towers were built of wood, most replaced by steel or stone. The Civilian Conservation Corps was instrumental in constructing fire towers during the 1930s and 1940s. One of the most famous and architecturally and aesthetically valued towers is the Harney Peak Fire Lookout--situated on the highest point east of the Rocky Mountains. Harney Peak is among a number of Black Hills towers listed on the National Historic Lookout Register. Over 200 vintage images tell the story of not only the historic fire towers but those who manned them. Perched atop high peaks in remote locations, fire lookout personnel spent countless hours scanning the forest, pinpointing dangers, often experiencing the powerful wrath of lightning strong enough to jolt them off their lightning stools.

Distinguished by statesmen and magnates, Helena's history is colored with many other compelling characters and episodes nearly lost to time. Before achieving eminence in Deadwood, Sheriff Seth Bullock oversaw Montana Territory's first two legal hangings. The Seven Mile House was an oasis of vice for the parched, weary travelers entering the valley on the Benton Road, despite a tumultuous succession of ownership. The heritage of the Sieban Ranch and the saga of "King Kong" Clayton, "the Joe Louis of the Mat," faded from public memory. From unraveling the myths of Chinatown to detailing the lives of red-light businesswomen and the Canyon Ferry flying saucer hoax, revered local historians Ellen Baumler and Jon Axline team up to preserve a compendium of Helena's yesteryear.

In 1884, a wealthy Montana Cattle Baron watches as a predator of unknown origin starts decimating his herd. However, the killings, while savage in nature don’t correspond with any known assailant. When the clandestine entity raises the ante by targeting and killing ranch hands, the ranch owner can no longer stand by idly. Three men with diametrically different dispositions are destined by fate to join forces to track down, capture or kill the rampaging killer. Included amongst the intrepid threesome are Marshal Sam McCord, who is heading the expedition, a brave but flawed individual plagued by past demons. Bauman, a taciturn trapper, and social outcast who inadvertently sets the wheels in motion. The final member of the trio and its most well-known participant is a young Theodore Roosevelt, the future 26th president of the United States. The search for the perpetrator takes the three men on an arduous and perilous pilgrimage. They eventually arrive at the designed destination only to find Bauman’s base camp destroyed. Quickly, they ascertain that the perpetrator initially believed to be an animal may be something else entirely. It’s watching, evaluating, but worst of all, it appears to be toying with them. Showing remarkable restraint, the bloodthirsty menace seems content coordinating a lethal game of a cat and mouse. It isn’t long before Roosevelt and his compadres find themselves the hunted. Can they kill the fiend responsible, or will they succumb to the same fate as the cattle? Incident at Devil’s Drop details a gripping alternative historical account related by Theodore Roosevelt. It’s a rousing tale of bravery and sacrifice in its depiction of a bizarre and lethal encounter inside the Bitterroot Mountains.

At about 12 noon, August 2nd, 1876, James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok, entered the No. 10 Saloon in Deadwood City seeking entertainment and drinks.... three men were engaged in a game of draw poker cards and quickly invited Wild Bill to join them.... Hickok had an unobstructed view of the front door and could comfortably turn his head to see the rear door... Jack McCall entered the No. 10 Saloon ... when less than half a dozen feet from the rear door, McCall suddenly turned and fired one round... death was instantaneous.... This historical book includes the best available description of the No. 10 Saloon interior floor layout, and the physical placement of all the participants that were involved with the shooting of Wild Bill on August 2nd, 1876. A detailed analysis of the subsequent flight, capture, and trial of Jack McCall is also provided. Original photos and a new 1876 Deadwood City Main Street informational map are made available for review.

Did a doomed party of prospectors discover gold in South Dakota's Black Hills decades before Custer's Black Hills Expedition scouted out the area? Why would anyone want to murder one of Deadwood, South Dakota's most upstanding citizens? Where did Lame Johnny hide his stolen cache of over $7.5 million in gold? From the wily—and some say dangerous—jackalope to the world’s largest mammoth grave, Black Hills Myths and Legends of makes history fun and pulls back the curtain on some of the Mount Rushmore State’s most fascinating and compelling stories.