I’ve always been a pretty big fan of the Adams Museum. It’s the oldest history museum in the Black Hills, and as such, it’s got one of the best collections of mining and pioneer artifacts dating back to the early days of the Black Hills gold rush. It’s been a well-known stop for a long time, so if you visited the Black Hills as a kid, you probably stopped here.

At this point, I need to digress and point out that the Adams Museum of 30 years ago – or even 10 years ago, for that matter – is quite different than the Adams Museum today. Once upon a time the museum accepted nearly anything anyone cared to donate, and it quickly became a cluttered mess. The city’s old-timers even dubbed it “Deadwood’s attic.” But over the past several years, its director and staff have upgraded the museum’s collections and building. Professional interpretive displays and exhibits have replaced the old cabinet of curiosities feel, leaving the Adams Museum a much more pleasant – and easier-to-navigate – place to visit.

The Adams House is a fairly recent addition to the city – sort of. The 19th-century mansion has been in its location on Van Buren Avenue, in Deadwood’s fashionable Presidential District, since it was built in 1892. However, it sat empty for a half-century, preserving its Victorian furnishings and decor until it was opened to the public as a historic house museum about a decade ago. A guided tour through the Adams House is an incredible way to experience Deadwood’s glory days – without all the grime, dirt and (as HBO’s Deadwood suggests) potty mouths.

If you’re a veteran, you’ll have the opportunity to tour the Adams House for free next weekend. In honor of Veterans Day, the museum will give free tickets to veterans from all branches of the armed forces on Saturday, Nov. 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. To get details, you can check out the Adams House website or give them a ring at 605.578.3724.