Rapid City in Pennington County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Dinosaur Park History & Creation

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026

1. Dinosaur Park History & Creation Marker

Inscription.

Dinosaur Park is one of the original tourist attractions in the Black Hills. The intention behind its creation was to capitalize upon the emerging popularity of the large sculpture of US Presidents being carved from bare rock 23 miles up the road. Emmet Sullivan was commissioned to construct five dinosaur sculptures along the gravel route, now Skyline Drive, to Mount Rushmore.

The Rapid City Chamber of Commerce donated the land for Dinosaur Park to the City and Sullivan began construction in March 1936.

Sullivan was given 15 months and $25,000 of WPA funding to complete the project. He invented his own system to build the dinosaurs where he embedded two-inch black pipe in concrete to anchor the framework and then created a structure for the bodies from rebar, mesh, and more concrete. After the sculptures were completed, the park was dedicated on June 1, 1937.

Toward the end of the project construction, Emmet and the WPA had a disagreement about payment. Emmet resigned and took the T. Rex teeth with him, claiming he made them on his own time. After some negotiations the relationship between Emmet and

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the WPA was resolved and he came back, bringing the teeth with him. The teeth proved an attractive target for folks throwing rocks and have since been lost or stolen.

There is a project record with the names of the WPA workers, supporters, Rapid City Chamber of Commerce members, and other City officials sealed in a packet and placed inside the thigh of the Apatosaurus. Or so the legend goes.

Emmet and his wife Lorraine were granted control over concessions and maintained the park for public use. In 1958 Emmet constructed two more dinosaurs the Dimetrodon and Protoceratops, located in front of the Dinosaur Park visitor center. In 1967, the city took over the park, but Lorraine continued to run the concessions.

Emmet Sullivan passed away on November 3, 1970 and is buried in the Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis. The dinosaurs at Dinosaur Park were placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.

IMAGES:
1. Construction of rebar for Apatosaurus Sculpture
2. Installation of T. Rex teeth
3. Dog posing in front of Stagosaurus

Erected by City of Rapid City and Others.

Topics. This historical

Dinosaur Park Entrance Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026

2. Dinosaur Park Entrance Markers

marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1936.

Location. 44° 4.682′ N, 103° 14.697′ W. Marker is in Rapid City, South Dakota, in Pennington County. It is on Skyline Drive, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 940 Skyline Drive, 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 Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Works Progress Administration (here, next to this marker); Trachodon (a few steps from this marker); Dimetrodon (within shouting distance of this marker); Stegosaurus (within shouting distance of this marker); Protoceratops (within

Dinosaur Park WPA Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026

3. Dinosaur Park WPA Marker

shouting distance of this marker); Apatosaurus (within shouting distance of this marker); Tyrannosaurus Rex (within shouting distance of this marker); Triceratops (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rapid City.

Also see . . . Dinosaur Park National Register Registration Form. (Submitted on October 9, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

Dinosaur Park NRHP Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026

4. Dinosaur Park NRHP Marker

Dinosaur Park Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026

5. Dinosaur Park Marker

Dinosaur Park City Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026

6. Dinosaur Park City Marker

Dinosaur Park Welcome Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026

7. Dinosaur Park Welcome Marker

Dinosaur Park and Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026

8. Dinosaur Park and Markers

Credits. This page was last revised on October 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 9, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 6 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on October 9, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.