today, it's Geology

The Deadwood formation, overlies Precambrian schists with conglomerates, sandstone, mudstone and other goodies deposited in a marine environment. There is a fault zone here, you can see the tilt of the layers as they were pushed up.

This particular cliff face borders part of the Deadwood gulch area that the miners were trying to reach. If they approached from the north, the only way in was down the side of the cliff. There are accounts of having to lower supplies, including wagons and horses over the cliffside using heavy block and tackle! How is that for determination during a gold rush?

a horse of a different Color

The Iron Horse came in to the passenger station directly across the street from the Inn... the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad served the citizens of Deadwood, South Dakota, the Depot is where they disembarked from the train. The entire town of Deadwood is a now National Historic Landmark, much of the historic preservation work is done with money from the legalized gambling in the old gold town. The restoration of the Depot is a project that my husband did research and design work for several years ago.

This creature is carved out of the block of stone that forms the lintel over the front door, it is not an add-on. You just don't see this kind of masonry work now days . My husband, the architect, loves a design challenge, so far no clients have asked for carved stone horses or gargoyles as a building details.