Abstract:
Traditionally, 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.