About Pennington County, SD

Gallery Art in Rapid City

Walls at home or the office looking pretty bare? Time to head to Rapid City to find that perfect piece of art to liven up your world! Each Gallery in this list has something unique and beautiful to offer. Find something that fits you and support many local, Rapid City artists in the process. Art is alive and well and waiting for you! Here is a list to get you started:

Apex Gallery

713 7^th St, Rapid City 605.394.4101

The Apex Gallery is part of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. Established in 1989, the Apex Gallery highlights art that is beautiful, scientific, and educational. The artists and scientists that create these works for the gallery come from right around corner in Rapid City, to all around the world. Gallery exhibits change often, making this gallery a great place to stop in year round.

Prairie Edge Trading Company and Gallery

606 Main St, Rapid City 605.342.3086

Located in the middle of downtown Rapid City, Prairie Edge is so much more than a Gallery. Specializing in Native American Art, Craft and Culture, you can find native or native-inspired gallery art made with techniques that go back generations. There is also a selection of non-native modern and contemporary gallery pieces just as stunning and full of life, culture, and history. Stop by Prairie Edge Trading Company and Gallery and while you are there, check out all the other amazing crafts, clothes, food, toys and more!

James Van Nuys Gallery

516 6^th St, Rapid City 605.343.2449

South Dakota has some of the best landscapes in the West! Capturing these magnificent sights is James Van Nuys. This gallery features all of his work in oils, acrylics, watercolors, bronze, and more. Perfect for the visiting art lover who wishes to take a piece of their trip around Rapid City home with them; this gallery is a must see.

There are plenty of other galleries to choose from in and around the Rapid City area. Take in the beauty of the west and its wonderful artists by visiting a gallery or two on your next sunny day off. If you are an artist and wish to display your work in a gallery, discover the perfect fit for you in one of Rapid City’s amazing galleries.

Gallery Art in Rapid City

Local Beer in Rapid City

Located in the original city firehouse, Rapid City’s Firehouse Brewing Company has become a regular destination for those seeking local beer, a great atmosphere, and wonderful food. Designed with the original, Rapid City fire hall in mind, visitors are surrounded by polished brass, antique fire fighting equipment, and local photographs and signs from years gone by. The bar features over nine local beers on tap, which are made in the brewery just beyond the glass enclosure. Children and adults alike love to watch the brewmasters work! The beers themselves are made from the highest, quality ingredients; making this local, restaurant a must see in Rapid City!

To go with your hand crafted beers are local Midwestern dishes. The menu also goes out of the realm of local, Rapid City favorites to include world-class dishes like gumbo, burritos, bangers and mash, and souvlaki. Meet up with friends in the lounge or patio to grab a bite and beer. During the summer the heated patio features live, local music! If you are looking for something a bit different, head up to the third floor for the Firehouse Dinner Theater. With shows changing frequently, you can see a comedy, musical or play every month. Friend them on Facebook to see what will be playing next!

Whether you are a local or an out-of-towner, everyone can find something at Firehouse Brewing Company in Rapid City. Try the amazing Artichoke Dip with a beer like the Wilderness Wheat! While you are there, sign up to receive emails with coupons and information about their latest beer creations, and local events. Don’t forget to stop by next door to pick up a shirt, hat, or mug for your trip home.

610 Main St, Rapid City 605.348.1915

Local Beer in Rapid City

Water Park in Rapid City

Now that the middle of winter is upon us, many will start daydreaming of warmer weather and fun! Rapid City is lucky to be able to make your dream a reality with WaTiki Indoor Water Park Resort. Throw on your bathing suit, bundle up, and make your way over for a wild, water park weekend.

Just outside of Rapid City proper, off of I-90, WaTiki Water Park is the perfect place to get rid of those winter blues. WaTiki Water Park features 30,000 square feet of slides, shoots, sprays, and splashes. These water park classics include: six enormous slides, an area for smaller children called Koko’s Kingdom, a lazy river, and 300 gallon dump bucket. There is also an arcade, concession stand, picnic area, hot tub/spa, changing rooms and more. WaTiki Water Park in Rapid City has rooms for hosting parties, meetings, weddings, family reunions and more. Talk with the wonderful water park staff to coordinate a party everyone will remember!

The WaTiki Indoor Water Park Resort also provides over 250 guest rooms at the adjoining La Quinta Inn & Suites and Fairfield Inn & Suites. This makes entertaining those out-of-town visitors to Rapid City a cinch! Other Rapid City hotels are also located nearby to book your vacation today. Although the whole facility is indoors, you can still enjoy the view with WaTiki Water Park’s atrium style construction (so don’t forget your sunblock!) Make sure to check regularly for specials like free days and “Kids Eat Free Sundays”. With WaTiki Water Park now open all year round, you can plan your getaway from Rapid City or to Rapid City any time! See you in the water!

1314 North Elk Vale Rd, Rapid City 605.718.2474

Water Park in Rapid City

Museums in Rapid City

The history of Rapid City and the surrounding Black Hills is quite amazing. The Sioux people originally called the Black Hills “the center of the Universe”. This describes the majesty of the area around Rapid City quite well. To learn more about how the Black Hills came to be and the history of all the people that made Rapid City the center of their Universe, look no further than the Journey Museum!

Located near the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, the Journey Museum is actually a combination of five different museum institutions: the Museum of Geology, the South Dakota Historical Society’s Archeology Research Center, the US Department of Interior, Indian Arts and Craft Boards Sioux Indian Museum, Minnilusa Historical Association, and the City of Rapid City Duhamel Plains Indian Artifact Collection. Together, these museum institutions create an amazing timeline of the history of Rapid City and the Black Hills.

Start your journey by learning about the cosmos. See how our Earth was formed, visit the moon, drop in on the rest of the solar system, and look out at our galaxy and beyond. Next, visit the most ancient of Rapid City’s residents; Rocks and Dinosaurs! You will see interesting displays of how the area was formed by volcano, earth quake, and more. In addition, you will see fossils and bones found in the area that clue us into what the world was like millions of years ago. There are also interactive museum displays to learn about the amazing Dinosaurs that roamed through what is now Rapid City.

Then, take a trip back to learn about the native people who called the land around Rapid City their home. The Journey Museum has beautifully preserved Native American artifacts from the Duhamel and Sioux Indian exhibits. Experience this colorful and rich heritage through interactive displays that highlight how the Sioux people chose the Black Hills and how they remain here to this day. Don’t forget to visit the Minnilusa Pioneer Museum for a taste of the Wild West. Notable characters from history found their homes in the Rapid City area like Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, Wild Bill Hickock, General Custer, Jim Bridger, and Red Cloud. You will see wonderful photography of a young Rapid City, amazing displays of weaponry, and first hand accounts of terrible battles and the discovery of gold. This museum has it all!

There is even more to this museum for people of all ages. Events and classes are held on a regular basis, so sign up to learn something new! Teachers will find there is much to learn from the Journey Museum’s workshops on topics in modern astronomy. Students can make use of the various libraries, activities, tours and more. Visit the Journey Museum in Rapid City today!

222 New York St, Rapid City 605.394.6923

Museums in Rapid City

Reptile Gardens in Rapid City

Reptile Gardens in Rapid City goes beyond things that slither! Located just outside downtown Rapid City, Reptile gardens was started in 1937 by Earl Brockelsby, who loved reptiles of all shapes and sizes. Since then the amazing attraction has grown leaps and bounds, drawing visitors from all over to Rapid City, South Dakota. The expansion of the park has brought so much more to see than reptiles.

The sky dome houses tropical plants, snakes, (which is the largest collection in the world), crocodiles, amphibians, and big bugs! Many plants, reptiles, and bugs in the sky dome gardens are rare or nearly extinct. Next, you can head over to the gator show to see the expert keepers entertain you with the biggest, and deadliest, reptiles on earth. Then, take a walk to the bird show arena to visit with exotic birds. Get close and personal with the cutest residents at Prairie Dog Town. Visit with the longest-living Rapid City reptiles at the giant tortoise yard. Round off the day with a relaxing stroll through Tortuga Falls. All this and more hidden just outside of Rapid City at Reptile Gardens!

What a cool place to visit! Imagine working at Reptile Gardens! The family owned and operated facility not only employs some of the nation’s top reptile experts, but staff that is friendly and knowledgeable too. Educating the public about these amazing, and sometimes dangerous, reptiles is their top priority. Reptile Gardens in Rapid City also works with various zoos and organizations to provide safe and healthy habitats for rare or endangered species. Visit Reptile Gardens in Rapid City today to support amazing animals and the continuation of education.

8955 S Highway 16, Rapid City 605.342.5873

Reptile Gardens in Rapid City