Rapid City in Pennington County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Vanishing Elements of Our Past
| | The Downtown Rapid City Historic District | |
Photographed by Thomas Smith, May /16/26
1. Vanishing Elements of Our Past Marker
Vanishing Elements of Our Past
On May 1997, downtown Rapid City experienced a tremendous loss that date, a fire destroyed the historic Sweeney Hardware Building which stood the southwest comer of Seventh and Main Streets. The loss prompted the creation of this sign to preserve the memory of this historic building, and in addition, to commemorate other historic properties lost through the ravages of time.
In May 1997, downtown Rapid City experienced a tremendous low that date, a fire destroyed the historic Sweeney Hardware Building which stood the southwest comer of Seventh and Main Streets. The loss prompted the creation of this sign to preserve the memory of this historic building, and in addition, to commemorate other historic properties lost through the ravages of time.
The Rapid City Historic Commission has adopted the placing commemorative signage throughout downtown Rapid City as a method of These signs serve as both a record of the celebrating the City's rich history historic features of the City, and as a reminder of the importance of their preservation.
The need to preserve historic buildings,
this page online
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The Sweeney Building. (1986) At the time of this building's construction, the tallest building in the United States was eleven stories in height. Its loss, in the fire of May 8, 1997 was significant for this community. The Sweeney Building was a living record of brick detailing/metal cornice work and much more, which had survived the ages, Now, mere photographs and drawings must attempt to replace the loss. ( W. J. Collins, photographer - Courtesy, Minnilusa Pioneeer Museun)
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The Fountain
Early in the 20th Century, the was street looked much different, with the Sweeney southwest corner, the Harney Hotel on the northwest fountain in the center of Main Street. Today or survives Efforts began in 1996 to remove the present location and return it to downtown to period of time long since past. (Fred W Farrar, rights reserved).
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The Chicago & Westerns Passenger Depot. (1907) Location Northwest corner of Omaha and Mt. Rushmore Road. Though outside the limits of the downtown historic district, the demolition of this depot in the late 1970's was a significant loss to the area. This razing of this clay title, brick, and heavy timber building marked an end to one of only two remaining early passenger depots in Rapid City (Fred W. Farmer, photographer, all rights reserved.
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The Harney Hotel. (1886) Built at the sane time as the Sweeney Building, the Harney Hotel was a prime example of the craftsmanship and detailing these buildings afforded. In construction from this time in history, the builder, the designer and the craftsman were one in the same - The Master Builder. In fact, to build a building of this type today is all but economically impossible because of all the time, details and special materials that went into them, (Fred W.Farrar, Photographer, all right reserved)
Erected by The Rapid City Historic Preservation Commission / Then National Park Service.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Education • Notable Buildings.
Location. 44° 4.888′ N, 103° 13.747′ W. Marker is in Rapid City, South Dakota, in Pennington County. It is at the intersection of Main Street and Seventh Street, on the right when traveling west on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 711 Main Street, Rapid City SD 57701, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in West River and in the Badlands. It is also in the American Black Hills, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, on the prairies, and on the Northern Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Ruperts Land and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Mitakuye Oyasin (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Black Hills Veterans Memorial (approx. Ό mile away); Tank Traps (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Berlin Wall Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Berlin Wall Segments (approx. 0.3 miles away); The American Commitment (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Cruel Border (approx. 0.3 miles away); Confrontation (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rapid City.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 27, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 21, 2026, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. This page has been viewed 18 times since then. Photo 1. submitted on June 21, 2026, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
