Rapid City was founded in 1876, two years after gold was discovered in the Black Hills. It is now a trading center and tourist headquarters of the Black Hills area. One of the city's unusual features is a 50 foot environmental sculpture called TOTH (Tower on the Hill) which sits atop Smelter Hill on the campus of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. The tower symbolizes the role of gold mines in area history and development.
Bear Country U.S.A. (8 m south on US 16) is a drive-thru wildlife park where North American animals such as black bears, wolves, bison, elk, deer, antelope, bighorn sheep, moose and Rocky Mountain goats roam freely. Cougars, bobcats, grizzly bears, and smaller creatures are also exhibited. Open 8-dusk. Admission $6.50 per person, or $22 max for private vehicles.
Ellsworth Air Force Base (I-90 exit 66) offers one hour guided tours of the Strategic Air Command bomber and missile base. Tour depart from the air and space museum. Every hour 9:30-3. Admission: $3 per person
South Dakota Air and Space Museum, on the base, contains artifacts and displays depicting the history of the base and the groups that have been assigned to it. A wide variety of military airplanes are on the grounds. Open 9-5. Donations
Minnilusa Pioneer Museum (515 West Blvd. between Main and St. Joseph in Halley Park) has many pioneer artifacts which illustrate the major industries, people and events that shaped the area from the time of the fur trade to the present. Open 9-5. Free
Sioux Indian Museum (515 West Blvd, next to Pioneer Museum) exhibits the works of Sioux and other Native American artisans. Open 9-5. Free