PIERRE — When hundreds of people traveled from Fort Pierre to Deadwood by wagon train this summer, they were following ruts left a century ago.

But they were also guided by a collection of maps, both new and old, showing the route taken by the old 19th century wagon trains — a collection of maps now on its way to libraries across the state.

The 44-page atlas of the Fort Pierre to Deadwood trail was sold as a memorabilia item throughout the wagon train. It was a popular item — so popular the couple selling it, Gary and Connie Grittner of Fort Pierre, had to commission a second printing. But when that second printing didn’t sell out, the Grittners decided to donate their leftover stock so students, researchers and history buffs can follow the maps of the old Deadwood trail themselves.

Rebecca Bentz | Capital Journal South Dakota State Librarian Dan Siebersma (from left) and Fort Pierre residents Connie and Gary Grittner flip through the ‘Ft. Pierre-Deadwood Trail Historical Atlas’ Wednesday afternoon. Advertisement

Two hundred copies of the Fort Pierre to Deadwood Trail Atlas are being distributed this week to libraries across the state. Receiving an atlas will be every academic library in the state, every public library west of the Missouri River, and every West River high school library. Selected East River libraries will also receive a copy, including Rawlins Library.

“I think it’s important, because the trail is a major part of the history of western South Dakota,” said Gary Grittner. “This document is by far the best document with respect to the physical trail.”

State librarian Dan Siebersma is supervising the distribution of the atlas, including it in the mailings the state library regularly sends out to local branches.

“As a historical item, it’s priceless,” Siebersma said. “It’s a historically-important document that a lot of libraries wouldn’t have had access to without the donations.”

The atlas was assembled by the state historical society, working with trail ride leaders.

“In digging this out they put together this marvelous oversized atlas that includes detailed maps of every section on the trail,” Siebersma said. “It includes both modern-day maps and old maps that show what the layout of the land was like years ago.”

Gary Grittner said he hopes the atlas will be useful to the public in local libraries.

“I think future generations, the kids and young people, will understand how important that trail was, and actually be able to retrace it by book and by map through these documents,” said Grittner.