New History Channel show includes story of Deadwood

By The Associated Press | Monday, June 25, 2007

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DEADWOOD — Deadwood of the late 1870s will be part of the History Channel’s “Lost Worlds” show this fall.

The show uses computer generated imaging to reproduce the history and architecture in the subjects featured. Twelve locations were filmed and featured last year in a weekly series that tries to graphically re-create lost civilizations and ancient worlds.

Producers and filming crews spent almost two weeks in Deadwood recently.

“We were keen to do something on the Wild West, that side of American history. We chose Deadwood as that ultimate site. With its mining and railroad history, coupled with huge, colorful characters like Calamity Jane and Wild Bill, Deadwood just encapsulates all that is the Wild West,” said Tom St. John Gray, an associate producer.

“The town is high in the public imagination. It’s a big draw for historians and tourists, alike, who find the stories behind the buildings just as interesting,” added director Oliver Twinch.

The producers said the Deadwood episode will focus on 1875-1879, when the bustling gold rush town sprang up and was just as quickly destroyed by fire.

In addition to bringing their own experts to town, “Lost Worlds” researchers also met with local experts, including Mary Kopko, director of the Adams Museum and House.

“The difference between this show and others that we have worked with is that they were in town filming a lot longer. What is so interesting about this show is what it will feature. Using computer graphics, they will recreate the town prior to the fire of 1879,” said Kopko.

In addition to early maps and other archival materials, History Channel researchers used newspaper accounts

“One of the beautiful things about all this is that the ‘Black Hills Pioneer’ was here from June of 1876 on, documenting the evolution of this mining camp that sprung into the gold rush town of Deadwood,” said Kopko.

 

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