Dennis, Michelle L.2023-07-262023-07-261995-03https://hdl.handle.net/1794/28581194 pagesTraditionally, small towns have been at a disadvantage in funding historic preservation efforts as most federal and state funding programs tend to focus on projects in urban areas. Because small towns are an important form of American community, funding the preservation of historic resources and character defining features which make small towns desirable is essential. This study examines the use and results of legalized gambling as a tool to fund small town preservation, using Deadwood, South Dakota as a case study. A literature review defines what small towns are and why they should be preserved, as well as preservation issues, including planning, resource identification, and funding. The implementation of gambling in Deadwood, preservation management issues, gambling-funded projects and impacts on the community are discussed, as are successes and failures associated with this method of funding. Using Deadwood's experience, implications and guidelines for other communities are discussed.enCreative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0-USfederal and state funding programshistoric preservationcity planningThesis / Dissertation