Great tour and very informative. Our tour guide Ethan was so knowledgeable and provided a lot of historical information on the house and the families that lived there. Tour lasted about 45 minutes and worth the time spent. read more

Historic Adams House - Museums Near Me - Deadwood, South Dakota

The tour was excellent - our guide, Ray was very fun and knowledgeable. We enjoyed the stories of the people who lived in this home and it truly brings history to life! Such a beautiful building. Fun to imagine the generations before us and how they lived. I'm so impressed by the craftsmanship and the time period artifacts make this a really wonderful experience. Great way to spend an hour! read more

Built by prominent Deadwood businessman Harris and Anna Franklin in 1892, the Queen Ann-style home boasted plumbing, electricity, telephone service and an indoor kitchen with an icebox. At a cost of $10,000 to build, the Franklins spared no expense to furnish their home. Highlights included 18-carat gold chargers, monogrammed silver service and fine crystal wear. A safe was placed in the wall next to the dining room, so they would not have to carry the valuable place settings too far. Franklin also built a hotel on Main Street that is now a casino. When the Franklins moved back east, they sold the home to their son Nathan for $1. In 1920, Nathan Franklin sold the home to the Adams family fully furnished for $8,000. The Adams family lived there for 5 years, but Mrs. Alice Adams, who was diagnosed with cancer, died during a visit to her pregnant daughter in California. The shock of her mother's death sent her daughter, Helen, into premature labor. Both she and her daughter died which left a distraught Mr. W.E. Adams without any family. Several years went by and Mr. Adams met a young widow, Mary Vicich. She rebuffed his amorous advances, but he continued to court her with candy, flowers and other gifts. The two eventually married. He was 73 and she was only 29. Seven years later, he died of a stroke and she closed the house for the next fifty years as she felt was haunted. Eventually, the house was sold, but the new owners saved everything , including jars of biscuits, so the restoration is very close to how the families would have lived here in the late 1800s to early 1900s. read more

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Admission is $12 for adults and we passed by this on the way from the cemetery and decided to stop by and take a tour. The tour guide was very informative and walked us through the house. Deadwood is a small city but there is plenty of history going on around there. Love learning about the previous residents that lived their and their tragic love stories. read more

Took a 45 minute tour given by a knowledgeable guide ($10 pp). The Queen Anne style Victorian home has an interesting history and is furnished with beautiful historically correct furnishings from the late 1800's. Not much parking on the street, but worth a look. read more

This tour of a Queen Ann Victorian home was really great. The original owner of the house was a very prominent man in Deadwood as the co-owner of the grocery store. The house was very progressive with electricity, running water, a "freezer", amongst other modern and technology advances of the time - all in the western migration. The house itself has all the original furniture and glass. While there has been damage, everything has been restored beautifully. The house has only had two owners. The second owner's story is most interesting. When he passed away, he left the house to his second wife. She refused to live in the house, and it sat empty for 50 years, which is why so much of the original furnishings and wall hangings are in the house for people to exhibit. If you have been to any other houses of this era, you know that this is incredibly unique. PS If you go on a tour of hauntings, you can ask about the house and get more information about its past! read more

Beautiful home! Great tour! I really enjoyed the tour guide, she was full of information. There is so much that has been well preserved, big kudos to the Historic Society of Deadwood! If time permits, I'd suggest going to the W.E. Adams Museum before you come to the Adams House, because I feel like it gives you more appreciation for the home and all the valuables in it. Plus, the tour guide kept referencing "at the museum" and I was really glad that I went to the museum earlier in the day prior to the house tour, because I knew everything she was talking about. Lastly, I am super thankful they were open during "Deadweird" weekend. I will be back to do the paranormal tour someday! read more

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Definitely worth the visit! We went in without any knowledge of this place or any of its history and we were blown away by the end of the tour! Aaron, our tour guide, was very knowledgeable, could answer any question, and made the whole thing a fun experience! read more

Great representation of what life was like for wealthy people back in the late 1800 early 1900. Our tour guide took her time making sure we all got a good look at everything. If you find yourself in Deadwood you have to check it out. read more

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I really enjoyed touring this historic house. Almost everything is exactly the way it was when it was built in the late 1800s. I had read that it was supposedly haunted after I toured it. I wish I knew beforehand since I would've loved to have run into a ghost. But if you are into any kind of architecture and detail this place is a must. It was the most expensive house built in the area at the time and it still looks it. read more

Very nice restored home. Fine example of late 19th century luxury living. Our tour guide Sydney was very knowledgeable and the tour flowed nicely with the history if the home and the family(s) who lived there. read more

This was one place I was so excited to see. Let me tell you it was so worth it. Just the thought that it laid untouched for 50 yrs, not even a break in is amazing in its self. I can't even begin to tell you how amazing this your is, other then to say it's a must see. read more

I would love to give more than a 1 star. Unfortunately, we were unable to tour. Part of our group raises service animals for CCI (a nationally recognized organization doing good) and the almost trained service animal was not allowed. Shame on you Historic Adams House. read more

Excellent tour. The guides were knowledgeable and made the tour very enjoyable. We were in a large group and the guide made it so everyone could see and hear the history. read more

Nice guide, nice house, definitely not self guided or good for children of any age. I would have paid double to walk through on my own.

My family enjoyed this tour but specifically our guide. Keenan? He was so thorough and really gave us our money's worth. A good guide can make or break a tour. This guide was excellent. Beautiful home, rich with history. Sweet gardens surrounding home. Worth a visit! read more

This was one of my favorite things while visiting Deadwood. There is a lot of history in the house and you can get a feel for what life was like when the house was in use. Lexi, our tour guide, although she said she hadn't been there long, was very knowledgeable and a pleasure. The Adam's Museum is well worth the visit as well. read more

Wild west history, along the lines of the Brown house in Denver. Enjoyable and authentic. Along with the county museum and the cemetery, this can fill out a nice historical day in Deadwood. read more