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Hanging in the wax museum.

Wild West Historical Wax Museum (Gone)

Field review by the editors.

Wall, South Dakota

A dummy-lover's delight. There are over 50 of them in this small museum, including all the big Wild West names: Annie Oakley, Jesse James, Sitting Bull, Wyatt Earp, John Wayne.

Murderous Jack McCall lurks behind unsuspecting long-haired Wild Bill Hickok while Calamity Jane cavorts nearby. Custer and Crazy Horse stand in a cemetery, Custer pointing down to the graves, in front of a drawing of his bloody Last Stand. Frank McLaury, shot at the O.K. Corral, is bent backward in a position that would challenge any yoga instructor. Billy the Kid frankly looks like he may previously have been a Gary Busey or Roger Daltrey dummy.

The museum ends with a gallows scene: murderer Tom Horn is about to be hanged by two lawmen. "He hung for 17 minutes before he died," an accompanying sign explains. "As a warning to others, the criminal's body was left suspended and limply dangling until decomposed."

Wild West Historical Wax Museum

Directions:
I-90 exit 110, turn north onto Glenn St., then turn left. Drive two blocks then turn right onto Main St. Two blocks north, left side, on the southwest corner of Main and 6th Ave.
Hours:
2010: Closed.
Status:
Gone

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