Bella Union Saloon

The Bella Union Saloon was a theatre building in Deadwood with three main entrances, seventeen private boxes, and thirty-foot-high ceilings within its one-hundred-twenty-foot-long structure. The building combined theatre space with saloon facilities and featured separate areas for different types of entertainment and socializing.

Tom Miller established the Bella Union Saloon in September 1876 during the Black Hills Gold Rush. The business closed as a saloon in 1878 when financial pressures forced its shutdown.

The saloon marketed itself as family entertainment and stood apart from other Deadwood venues by offering theatrical shows alongside drinks and socializing. People gathered here to enjoy both performances and a social atmosphere.

The building sits at the intersection of Main Street in Deadwood, South Dakota. The location is easy to find and is part of the town's historic core, where you can walk around and explore the streetscape.

After closing as a saloon, the building was repurposed: a grocery store opened on the ground floor while the upper level became Mechanics' Hall for community meetings. This transformation shows how the structure adapted to serve the town's changing needs.

Location: Deadwood

Official opening: September 10, 1876

GPS coordinates: 44.37600,-103.72800

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:22