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Outdoor recreation in Memorial Park With one-of-a-kind shops & galleries, elegant to eclectic eateries & pubs, presidential statues, and turn-of-the-century buildings, downtown Rapid City embodies a city center that draws local folks and visitors alike. MAIN STREET SQUARE Downtown Rapid City offers the perfect complement to a Black Hills adventure with added urban pleasures and the excitement and allure of an authentic, cultural crossroads. Undoubtedly, the heart of the city center is located at Main Street Square, on the northeast corner of Sixth and Main Street. The Square is designed around a water fountain that delights kids of all ages. During the winter months, the fountain area transitions into an ice-skating rink, surrounded by the warmth of fire pits and kiosks featuring hot cocoa and holiday treats. With weekly events such as Movies Under the Stars, concerts, dances, roller derbies and more, the atmosphere is always lively and intriguing. And with a lengthy roster of special events, there is always a reason to plan a pleasant urban interlude as part of your Black Hills visit. THE SCULPTURE PROJECT Surrounding Main Street Square, discover The Sculpture Project, where 21 blocks of granite are on the verge of an amazing transformation into an ambitious public work titled “Passage of Wind and Water.” During the summer months, watch as master sculptor Masayuki Nagase carves the granite pieces using traditional stone carving tools. In 2017, he will work towards completing his fifth and final summer spent carving the granite slabs. The sculpture reflects the region’s natural and cultural past, present, and future, focusing on two major visual themes; wind for the Badlands Garden, and water for the Black Hills Garden. CITY OF PRESIDENTS In many ways, Rapid City’s downtown renaissance began in 2000 with a project called “The City of Presidents.” Playing off the area’s proximity to Mount Rushmore National Memorial, the presidential artwork was a major factor in reenergizing Rapid City’s downtown. The annual dedication of four new presidential statues began to draw interest and more foot traffic from locals and visitors alike. A good number of entrepreneurs decided the downtown location was a good bet, allowing visitors to browse fine shops and galleries, enjoy some of the area’s best cuisine, and pose for pictures next to their favorite president. In 2014, an attraction celebrating democracy opened on U.S. Highway 16 toward Mount Rushmore. America’s Founding Fathers Exhibit houses a unique tribute to democracy with a complete replica of Independence Hall, the birthplace of democracy in Philadelphia. A REGIONAL HUB Rapid City itself serves as the medical, transportation, education and entertainment hub for the Black Hills. If you fly here, you’ll arrive at RAP via Delta Airlines, United Airlines, American Airlines or Allegiant. Driving in, you may arrive via US Interstate 90, the main route used for driving to Rapid City from east-west; arriving from the north or south you may travel via highways US 85, US 385, SD 79 and SD 89. Rapid City offers a wide range of places to stay, with over 4,300 sleeping rooms at a variety of accommodations. Among these, you will find an indoor waterpark at Best Western Ramkota off I-90 at Exit 59, the WaTiki Indoor Waterpark Resort and adjoining hotel complex— LaQuinta Inn & Suites, Residence Inn, and Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott—all located at Exit 61. You can start your visit by delving into the area’s history, geology and cultural background at a number of museums that are open year-round – The Museum of Geology on the campus of South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, The Journey Museum & Learning Center, the South Dakota Air & Space Museum at Ellsworth Air Force Base, and The Outdoor Campus - West. Interested in fine Native American products? For exclusive Native American made goods, visit downtown’s Prairie Edge Trading Co. & Galleries, an enormous mercantile showcasing the culture of the Great Plains Indians through crafts, books, music and cultural artifact reproductions. Or take a free factory tour at Sioux Pottery, where they make and sell fine Native American ceramics and pottery. You can also tour the showroom and factory of Landstrom’s-Mt. Rushmore Black Hills Gold, where artisans meticulously craft Black Hills gold jewelry. Are wildlife and reptiles more your style? Venture south of Rapid City on US Hwy 16 to discover Reptile Gardens, home to the largest collection of reptiles in the world— as recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records. If you’d like to make a few furry friends, continue south to Bear Country USA where you will find a drive-thru park with 20 species of North American mammals living throughout the 250-acre park. Or continue even further on US Hwy 16 to Old MacDonald’s Farm, where the whole family can take part in handfeeding, petting and even bottle-feeding some of the animals. ENTERTAINMENT Capping Rapid City’s reputation as one of the region’s premier destinations is the huge Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, spread along Rapid Creek near downtown. The Civic Center is the Black Hills’ concert hall, entertainment complex, convention center and athletic arena. SHOPPING Rapid City has a number of shopping districts. North of I-90, between Exits 58 and 59, there’s the 100-store Rushmore Mall, with anchor stores At Home, JCPenney, Sears and Herbergers. Haines Avenue, an approach route to Rushmore Mall, is home to Shopko, Kohl’s and Books-A-Million. The Rushmore Crossing shopping area is located off I-90 between Exits 59 and 60. Here, you’ll find stores featuring fashion, shoes, pet supplies, crafts, and more. Outdoor enthusiasts can shop at Scheels All Sports or head east on I-90 to Exit 61, where Cabela’s offers hunting, camping and outdoor gear. You will find unique gifts and souvenirs along Hwy 16 at the House of Scandinavia and at Christmas Village. With parks, monuments and memorials all within an hour’s drive, Rapid City offers a contemporary vibe and rich cultural heritage experience for any explorer to “Do Big Things!”
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