A temporarily placed statue of Pres. Lincoln outside the Hotel Alex Johnson, Don Perdue came up…read morewith the idea to put a life-sized statue of every U.S. President on the sidewalks of Downtown Rapid City. Each statue is privately funded, then a local artists is selected . They research the president ; learning their passions, hobbies & achievements during their presidency. Well known mannerisms or characteristics are incorporated. This information helps to decide on the pose, facial expression, clothing, and all the amazingly tiny details found on each statue. After they have their concept the sculpting work can begin. It can take up to 9 months for each statue to be created. All the statues match the height & weight of the president except one. Pres. Taft's statue was trimmed down from his actual weight to make the monument affordable. A new audio tour allows us to get to know each as people, not just presidents. We can now dial in or scan the QR code found in the brochure to read along. The audio will even point out those tiny details the artist added info we might overlook.

We were in the area for Mount Rushmore, and were looking for other historic things to do/see. The…read moreFounding Fathers exhibit is really a unique experience. Being able to walk around a display with that kind of detail is impressive. I just wish that there was a bit more included in the price. It is $12 per person (discounts for large families/groups). This price includes a light and audio show (about 20 min) of a life size replica of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. For $30 per person, you get to see the show and shoot 3 shots from a musket at the range out back. The light and audio show was a pretty standard museum type explanation of the events surrounding the Declaration of Independence and the people involved. It's well done and fun to look at. They have information around the room to look at afterwards that gives you a background of all the people mentioned. The stories on them are worth taking a few minutes to read and was probably my favorite part. We really just didnt get enough out of it to make it worth the stop, especially for the price. We were in and out of there in less than an hour. We loved the idea of being able to shoot the replica guns out back and it would have been a fun way to complete the experience, but for $30 each it just didn't make sense. I'm glad we checked it out, but its needs a bit more included to make the detour worth it.

Stopped in today to get the last Tenkara I have needed for my collection. Sam was super helpful and…read morevery knowledgable. They have a ton of awesome merch From fly tying materials, lines, rods, hats, packs, you name it they got it. Got to buy local and support a great small business. I cannot recommend this place enough! we will be back soon! Fair prices and they offer a military discount.

They sent the product out immediately. They kept me informed and they are the nicest people in the…read moreworld. I would definitely buy from them almost exclusively. Unfortunately, I almost did not buy from them now I feel bad.

This is the main square in downtown Rapid City. There is artificial turf, fountains & some tables…read more& chairs. Perhaps if there was an event it would be more special. I understand that during the summers concerts and movies are presented here.

Neat little area to escape from some of the business of the mount Rushmore traffic and attractions…read more Cool area with open space with lots of shops and places to eat around it including a small little mini mall adjacent to it. Looks like it has the potential and probably hosts all kinds of cool events and concerts. I imagine the locals and tourists both have a blast here when there isn't a worldwide pandemic going on

Great park! Lots of picnic benches, clean new restrooms, water fountains and an awesome art…read moreinstallation about the history of the area. Nice for having lunch outside or taking a walk.

This Park is a great vantage point for viewing Rapid city. They have really updated the walk paths…read moreand seating areas which is nice. My kids still love to go look at the dinosaurs even after 10 years of going.

We stopped at Dinosaur Park while visiting Rapid City, and overall it was an enjoyable stop with…read moresome impressive features. The walking paths are well maintained, the signage is informative, and the views overlooking the city are absolutely beautiful. The dinosaur statues themselves, however, were a bit of a surprise. They have a very vintage roadside attraction feel--more like classic 1950s dinosaur sculptures than modern museum-quality exhibits. While that nostalgic charm may appeal to some visitors, they felt noticeably dated compared to the rest of the park. It almost seemed as though most of the investment went into the trails, landscaping, and visitor experience, while the dinosaur statues have remained largely unchanged over the years. Despite that, it's still a worthwhile stop for the scenic overlook and a bit of local history, especially if you're already in the Rapid City area.

"If I can talk to the President Would he pay attention…read morereally listen?" (LL Cool J) In the heart of downtown Rapid City, SD, it's quite understandable why many tourists might stop dead in their tracks and do a double take. That's because of the 44 life-sized bronze statues of America's Presidents found on twelve intersections up and down Main Street and St. Joseph Street in downtown Rapid City. Accordingly, Rapid City earned its nickname of "the City of Presidents". These statues are more or less life-sized and match the height and weight of the presidents. That is except for Ohio heavyweight William Howard Taft, who weighed over 350 pounds. His statue was slimmed down to make it more affordable. The statues poses are very cool -John Kennedy with his young son John-John, Barack Obama's statue captures his election night scene when he came out holding his daughter's hand, Abraham Lincoln was also sculpted with his son, Tad; FDR is shown standing at a podium with radio mics, and a slimmed down Taft commemorating the day he became the first president to deliver the first pitch at a baseball game. There is an on-line map that shows the location of the statues. This is most definitely one of the coolest things I've seen and a real treat for the history nerds out there. BONUS TIP As the weather got colder, we began to see considerate tourists and residents decorate the statues with wool hats or plastic fireman's hats to add a sense of humor to the statues. I can only imagine what will happen on Halloween!

**June 2025: Tuesday Morning/Afternoon Visit**…read more This was one of best highlight during my midwest trip. All 45 presidents have a statute at the corner of one of two streets in Rapid City. They're all positioned in different ways and it's pretty cool to see what pose was selected for them and how it reflected their personality and legacy. If you visit the Rapid City Visitor Center first you can get a map of all the presidents and participate in a Scavenger Hunt where you obviously can earn a prize! I love a challenge and my friend and I made it our mission to play and win! Just an FYI - you'll want to look very diligent behind and on the side of the presidents because some of items to find aren't very obvious - so they definitely put you to work! I think to walk up and down the two streets and look for the clues took at least two hours so it was a great way to get in my steps. I also took photos with each president so that probably slowed me down to be honest lol Our current president is located inside the Visitor Center and after we finished we got to redeem a cool South Dakota Tumbler and sticker. If you're in Rapid City you should definitely take on the Scavenger Hunt Challenge! One of the visitor center volunteers also said that during the winter time the presidents get decorated with scarves, mittens, hat etc. I'd love to see that one day!

Aka the Dahl? This is a nice, but small, art museum. There was traditional, contemporary, local,…read moreand kid friendly activity art all displayed, along with some nice sculptures. Donations only required. Newer galley, very accommodating, clean, and not crowded.

What a great experience . Many planes from WWII to modern …read more Price - FREE ADMISSION My family of five enjoyed it a great deal. Just missed the simulator ( ends at 2:00 most days ) Outdoor and indoor displays with a small gift shop .

This is a small but enjoyable air and space museum located just outside Rapid City, South Dakota…read more Best of all, admission is free, making it an easy stop if you're already visiting the area. Most of the aircraft on display are older military planes, so don't expect to see modern fighters or cutting-edge aircraft. Instead, the museum offers a nice look at aviation history with a variety of well-preserved vintage aircraft and informative displays. If you enjoy aviation or military history, it's definitely worth a visit--especially considering there's no admission fee.

We visited this attraction with our two young sons during a cross-country road trip, and it ended…read moreup being one of the highlights of our stop. The collection of reptiles and amphibians is impressive, with an incredible variety of species to see. Our favorite experiences were getting to pet the giant tortoises and watching the live alligator and snake shows. Both were entertaining, educational, and kept our kids completely engaged. Whether you're a lifelong reptile enthusiast or just mildly curious about these animals, this is a fun and worthwhile place to visit. It's especially great for families with young children and makes for a memorable stop if you're traveling through the area.

Our visit to Reptile Gardens was absolutely unforgettable! From the moment we walked in, we were…read moreblown away by how well-kept, interactive, and family-friendly everything was. Traveling with our 5-year-old, this was easily one of the highlights of our trip. He was completely fascinated by the huge variety of reptiles--especially the giant tortoises and snakes--and the live shows were both entertaining and educational. The staff did an amazing job keeping kids engaged while teaching them fun facts along the way. The grounds are beautiful and easy to navigate, making it a relaxing experience for parents too. You can tell how much care goes into the animals and the overall experience. If you're in the Rapid City area, this is a must-do--perfect mix of fun, learning, and memorable moments for the whole family!