Overview

Rapid City, South Dakota's second-largest city, rests amid the state's (and the country's) oldest mountain range � the Black Hills. This formation, with its abundant minerals and rugged terrain, has shaped much of the region's history. In fact, Rapid City's early prominence came from the Hills, although gold rather than rich mineral reserves generated the fame. Intent on seeking wealth, early prospectors defied government prohibitions against white settlements, which were enacted following hundreds of bloody conflicts with the indigenous Lakota. Although things have settled down in subsequent years, the area's natural beauty remains constant. More than 300 miles of streams (including Rapid Creek, which gave the town its name) thread through the Black Hills, making Rapid City a common jumping-off point for trout fishing. Hiking, mountain biking, and rock climbing also contribute to the town's status as one of South Dakota's most vibrant, most visited cities. And, of course, Mount Rushmore, a tribute to democracy and the American will, attracts folks with its monumental stature and impressive spectacle.

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