Black Hills Visitor Magazine - Summer 2015

Page 46

RAPID CITY

WE’VE GOT IT GOING ON

As South Dakota’s second largest community, Rapid City offers a wide variety of gift shops, boutiques, family attractions, parks, galleries, restaurants, and so much more.

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apid City was founded in 1876 by a group of prospectors that had come to the Black Hills in search of gold, and established its name from the springfed creek that passes through it. Originally called Hay Camp, Rapid City became a major trade center for not only mining camps, but also for the surrounding towns, Indian reservations, and ranches after the completion of the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad on July 4, 1886. Since its beginning, Rapid City has enjoyed a diverse economy including agriculture, forestry, government, tourism, healthcare, manufacturing, and a strong service sector. Downtown’s bustling streets of Rapid City are lined with a cozy collection of historic buildings filled with unique shops and galleries, where visitors can find one-of-a-kind pieces of Native American artwork and local craft goods. While

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strolling through town, make your way through Art Alley for a colorful display of area artists. The City of Presidents free walking tour holds a series of life-size bronze statues of all 43 of our nation’s past presidents, and can be enjoyed along Rapid City’s downtown sidewalks. Each figure depicts a president in a different pose, emphasizing some unique aspect of their personality—such as President Reagan wearing a cowboy hat. The presidents are life-sized, providing perfect photo ops. This walking tour is full of fun facts mixed with traditional history, making this self-guided tour entertaining and educational. A silhouette of a dinosaur is a prominent feature of the skyline on the mountain that separates east and west Rapid City. The Brontosaurus is one of the seven lifesize concrete sculptures built in 1936 in Dinosaur Park—a free attraction.


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