In 1874, Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer led an expedition into the Black Hills and discovered gold on land promised forever to the Sioux Nation. Within two years, treaty protections collapsed, Deadwood exploded into existence, and a war erupted that would destroy an entire way of life. STOLEN GOLD: The Black Hills and America's Most Shameful Rush reveals the true story of America's last great gold rush-and its most devastating betrayal. The Black Hills were sacred ground, guaranteed to the Lakota Sioux by solemn treaty. But when gold was confirmed in the summer of 1874, thousands of prospectors defied federal law and flooded into forbidden territory. The government, unable-or unwilling-to stop them, soon abandoned all pretense of honoring its promises. What followed was the birth of Deadwood, one of the most notorious towns in American history, where Wild Bill Hickok was murdered, fortunes were won and lost overnight, and lawlessness reigned. But Deadwood's legendary streets were built on stolen land, and its gold was extracted at a terrible price. STOLEN GOLD: The Black Hills and America's Most Shameful Rush chronicles the explosive collision between gold fever and indigenous sovereignty. From the Custer Expedition that sparked the rush to the Great Sioux War that crushed resistance, from the evolution of mining from placer pans to industrial behemoths like the Homestake Mine, this book captures the complete story of how greed, ambition, and broken promises transformed the American West. This narrative reveals: How the discovery of gold systematically dismantled the Fort Laramie Treaty The real lives behind Deadwood's legends-Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, and the diverse population history forgot The military campaigns that forced the Sioux onto reservations while miners extracted billions in gold The environmental devastation and cultural destruction that continue to this day Why the Sioux Nation has refused a billion-dollar settlement, insisting the Black Hills remain stolen This is not a romantic tale of frontier adventure. It is the unflinching account of how one of America's most celebrated gold rushes was built on one of its most shameful betrayals-and why that history still matters today. Perfect for anyone seeking to understand the true cost of Manifest Destiny.