The public discovery of gold in 1874 by the Black Hills Expedition, led by George Armstrong Custer, brought a mass influx of European-American miners and settlers into this region of the Dakota Territory. A group of unsuccessful miners founded Rapid City, SD in 1876, trying to create other chances; they promoted their new city as the "Gateway to the Black Hills.“ Local entrepreneurs promoted the sights, the availability of the automobile for individual transportation, and the construction of improved roadways after World War I led to many more tourists to this area, including President Calvin Coolidge and the First Lady in the summer 1927. Coolidge announced that he would not seek reelection in 1928 from his summer office in Rapid City. Gutzon Borglum, already a noted sculptor, began work on Mount Rushmore in 1927, and his son, Lincoln Borglum, continued the work after Gutzon's death in 1941. On June 9, 1972, heavy rains caused massive flash flooding along Rapid Creek through the city, killing 238 people and destroying more than $100 million in property. The city was rebuilt and became a major tourist destination once again. Rapid City has invested in public sculptures, which are on display in many parts of the city. The most visible is "The City of Presidents", a series of life-sized bronze statues representing each former President of the United States. The statues are located on street corners in the downtown area.
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29 сен 2024
