After our travels of the day, most of our group spent the evening touring Rapid City itself and enjoying a night on the town.
It was an optional event, but I think just about everyone participated in the walk around downtown Rapid City.
The Main Street Square has events scheduled all year, but summertime is fountain season. The place was crowded with kids (and adults) playing in the water or just enjoying the cool shade. Happy squeals abounded.
Our guide, Dave, took us on a brief tour of the statues of US Presidents. Rapid City, in keeping with its location so close to Mt. Rushmore, bills itself as the City of Presidents. Life-sized statues of all the past presidents are located on downtown corners. This is George H. W. Bush, in my opinion one of the best presidents of my lifetime.
Each of the presidents is depicted with something that indicates his character. Bush, who was a truly global statesman, is shown with a globe.
If I had to pick a favorite president, however, it would be James Madison. Not so much for what he did as president (I confess I'm somewhat hazy on that subject), but for his role in creating and defending the Constitution.
Madison is shown with a book.
In the winter months Rapid City citizens decorate the presidential statues with warm winter gear that is free for the taking by those who need it.
It is no longer winter, but Jimmy Carter offers up a cozy sweater. I felt it was a suitable tribute for a president who found his highest calling after his term in his work with Habitat for Humanity, global peacemaking, and other charitable causes.
One notable site is Art Alley, established as a place for local street artists to strut their stuff. Artists need a permit to paint, but it's easy to get one -- and they are free!
Dave told us that the incidence of miscellaneous graffiti throughout town declined significantly when this space was established.
I confess a fondness for creative graffiti, not to be confused with mindless "tagging." It can brighten up otherwise dreary places -- like back alleys.
Downtown Rapid City has escaped many of the evils of urban "renewal" and retains many of its historic buildings.
After our walking tour we dispersed to the four winds in search of supper. A few hopped back on the bus for a ride to the hotel, but most stayed downtown.
Jim and I enjoyed a pleasant Mexican restaurant named Qué Pasa Cantina. The wait staff wore t-shirts with the slogan: "If you don't like tacos, you're nacho my type." It took most of the meal for me to get the pun. Maybe I should go back to drinking margaritas!
After dinner we walked back to the hotel through Memorial Park.
In 1972 Rapid Creek, pictured here, flooded catastrophically destroying homes, businesses, and lives. In the aftermath of the flood many changes were made including a prohibition against rebuilding in the flood plain. Residents were relocated and the area was turned into a network of parks.
Not many jurisdictions have the good sense to do this. I remember my home town where people flooded and rebuilt and flooded and rebuilt and flooded, etc. until finally their insurance was terminated.
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