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Photograph of Dinosaur Park
Photograph by Minnesota Jones at en.wikipedia, Public domain. Via Wikimedia Commons.

Dinosaur Park

Built in 1936. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.

From the record

“Dinosaur Park is a dinosaur park in Rapid City, South Dakota, United States. Dedicated on May 22, 1936, it contains seven dinosaur sculptures on a hill overlooking the city, created to capitalize on the tourists coming to the Black Hills to see Mount Rushmore.”

Wikipedia article Dinosaur Park, CC BY-SA 4.0.

One of 59 National Register listings published here for Pennington County · listed in 1990 · category: Object · built in 1936, by Emmet Sullivan.

Sources: the Wikipedia article · the case file at the National Archives · the National Register database, National Park Service

The listing

  • What is counted as historic. The nomination lists 5 objectss as contributing to the listing.
  • Address. Skyline Dr. SW of Lincoln School, Rapid City, 57702
  • When was it listed? June 1990
  • Category. object
  • City. Rapid City city
  • When was it built? 1936
  • Architect. Emmet Sullivan
  • National Register reference number. 90000956 - the number the National Park Service assigned this property when it was listed, and the key its nomination file is catalogued under at the National Archives.

Fires near this property

292 since 1992

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 292 fires within 5 miles of Dinosaur Park between 1992 and 2020, burning about 7,486 acres in total. 41 started naturally. 10 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined108
Misuse of fire by a minor41
Natural41
Equipment and vehicle use37
Debris and open burning19
Fireworks15
Arson/incendiarism10
Smoking9
Recreation and ceremony7
Power generation/transmission/distribution3
Other causes1
Firearms and explosives use1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
8 September 1998Equipment and vehicle use3,100 acresPhilip Volunteer Fire DepartmentVIALIANT
7 September 2003Misuse of fire by a minorunder an acreSouth Dakota Wildland Fire Suppressionnot named
6 September 2003Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreSouth Dakota Wildland Fire Suppressionnot named
5 September 2001Power generation/transmission/distributionunder an acreSouth Dakota Wildland Fire SuppressionTRANSFORMER
5 September 2001Misuse of fire by a minorunder an acreRapid City Fire Department01-3743
5 September 2001Equipment and vehicle useunder an acreRapid City Fire Department01-3735
5 September 1996Naturalunder an acreSouth Dakota Wildland Fire SuppressionSUN RIDGE
4 September 2010Smokingunder an acreSouth Dakota Wildland Fire SuppressionNEMO RD

Every fire recorded in Pennington County

Mines and quarries near this property

10 of 17 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 17 workings within 5 miles of Dinosaur Park: 13 producers, 2 past producers, 2 unknowns. 13 still produce. What was taken out: Stone, Crushed/Broken, Sand and Gravel, Construction, Limestone, Dimension, Gypsum-Anhydrite. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Hills MaterialsLimestone, GeneralProducerLimestone
Rapid City Lime Kilns & QuarriesCalciumProducer
South Dakota State Cement PlantLimestone, General, Stone, Crushed/BrokenProducerLimestone, Shale
Haydite PitClayProducer
Light Aggregates Inc KilnClayUnknown
Dakota Lime & Brick Co QuarryLimestone, DimensionUnknown
Everist Limestone QuarryStone, Crushed/Broken, Limestone, DimensionProducer
Gyp PitGypsum-AnhydriteProducer
Hills Materials Limestone QuarryLimestone, Dimension, Stone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Hoffman PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer

Every working recorded in Pennington County

Storms near this property

60 of 620 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Rapid City, the town this property stands in, in 620 storm reports between 1993 and 2025: 469 hail, 103 thunderstorm wind, 17 flood, 13 flash flood. The reports record 5 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
August 2016LightningRapid City1 hurtA person was struck by lightning on Haines Avenue.
August 2016LightningRapid City1 hurtA person was struck by lightning at the Rushmore Crossing Shopping Center.
July 2016Thunderstorm WindRapid City1 hurtA tree fell on a car at the corner of New York Street and East Boulevard, injuring one person inside the car.
July 2003LightningRapid City1 hurtA 16 year old boy was struck by lightning in the parking lot of the Meadowbrook Golf Course.
August 1996Thunderstorm WindRapid City1 hurtno account filed
August 2013HailRapid City$12,000,000no account filed
August 2013HailRapid City$10,000,000Hail caused extensive damage to homes and vehicles on the west side of Rapid City.
August 2013HailRapid City$10,000,000Hail to the size of golf balls fell at the Rapid City National Weather Service office and across much of east Rapid City.
July 2013HailRapid City$8,000,000Large hail damaged automobiles and property in the area.
July 2013HailRapid City$5,000,000Large hail damaged vehicles and property in the area.
July 2013HailRapid City$2,000,000no account filed
June 2010HailRapid City$1,500,000no account filed
July 2002Thunderstorm WindRapid City$1,000,000no account filed
August 2011HailRapid City$750,000no account filed
June 2008HailRapid City$500,000Numerous automobiles were damaged by large hail in a hotel parking lot near Rushmore Mall. The hail also caused significant roof damage to Knollwood Heights Elementary and North Middle schools.
August 2007HailRapid City$500,000Hail to softball size broke windows and damaged roofs in the Black Gap subdivision. It also damaged vehicles and at least 70 motor homes at the Hart Ranch campgound.
June 2014HailRapid City$500,000no account filed
August 2011HailRapid City$500,000no account filed
August 2011HailRapid City$500,000no account filed
May 2013Flash FloodRapid City$300,000Two to six inches of rain caused flash flooding in the Rapid City area. Rapid Creek overflowed its banks and flooded portions of the bike path and several roads. Flooding was reported along Sheridan Lake Road in the Spring Brook Acres area. Fifth Street was flooded between Minnesota Street and Catron Boulevard. Arrowhead and Meadowbrook golf courses were flooded and a cart bridge was destroyed. Water was three feet high against Meadowbrook Elementary School. A few structures along Rapid Creek were flooded near South Valley Drive.
July 2010HailRapid City$300,000Hail to the size of golf balls damaged automobiles and houses on the west side of Rapid City.
June 1997Flash FloodRapid City$286,000no account filed
June 2015HailRapid City$250,000no account filed
August 2011HailRapid City$250,000no account filed
May 2019Flash FloodRapid City$150,000Runoff from heavy rain on already saturated ground caused flash flooding on the north and east sides of Rapid City. At least three people had to be rescued after driving into flood waters, including one where a culvert washed out on Nike Road just east of Haines Avenue and north of Country Road.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindRapid City$150,000The combination of hail and wind damaged vehicles and shredded plants on the south side of Rapid City.
May 2013HailRapid City$150,000no account filed
July 2013HailRapid City$150,000no account filed
June 1997FloodRapid City$147,000no account filed
June 2015HailRapid City$100,000Quarter to golf ball sized hail damaged automobiles.
September 2013HailRapid City$100,000Ping pong ball size hail caused some property damage on the northern edge of Rapid City.
May 2013HailRapid City$100,000no account filed
May 2013HailRapid City$100,000no account filed
June 2011HailRapid City$100,000no account filed
June 2010HailRapid City$100,000no account filed
May 2004HailRapid City$100,000no account filed
June 2000HailRapid City$100,000no account filed
May 2018Flash FloodRapid City$50,000Slow moving thunderstorms moved over the Rapid City area in the late afternoon and dropped two to three inches of rain in about an hour. Runoff from the heavy rain flooded streets and low-lying areas. Rapid Creek quickly overflowed its banks near the fairgrounds. The heaviest rain fell over the Robbinsdale area, where the runoff filled a detention pond near Robbinsdale Park to a depth of 30 feet and tore up sections of asphalt on Fairlane Drive. Several vehicles were pushed by the rushing water and one vehicle ended up in the detention pond. The fire department had to perform several water rescues.
June 2015LightningRapid City$50,000Lightning struck an apartment building and started a fire, causing considerable damage. Time was estimated.
August 2007HailRapid City$50,000Hail damaged automobiles near the intersection of South Highway 16 and Catron Boulevard.
June 2000Thunderstorm WindRapid City$30,000Numerous large tree branches down. A few vehicles damaged by the fallen limbs.
May 2010HailRapid City$25,000no account filed
June 2016LightningRapid City$20,000Lightning struck the top of a pickup truck and started a fire in the cab. The bolt also struck the ground, causing pieces of asphalt to hit the truck. The driver was uninjured.
June 2011HailRapid City$20,000no account filed
August 2010HailRapid City$20,000no account filed
July 1997Thunderstorm WindRapid City$12,000Numerous tree limbs were blown down including some that were 12 inches in diameter. A building supply store received roof damage. Also, scattered power outages occurred.
August 2013Heavy RainRapid City$10,000Heavy rain caused minor flooding in north Rapid City. A car was washed into a ditch at the intersection of Maple Avenue and Disk Drive. Runoff flooded backyards and basements at the corner of Crestwood Drive and Racine Street. Rapid Creek rose to within a foot of its banks near the Central States Fairgrounds. The water quickly receded within 20 minutes at most locations.
August 2013HailRapid City$10,000Hail damaged a vehicle and shingles on the house.
July 2003Thunderstorm WindRapid City$10,000Numerous trees and power lines were blown down in Rapid City.
August 2007HailRapid City$10,000no account filed
June 2011LightningRapid City$6,000Lightning struck the National Weather Service office, damaging computers and equipment.
July 2019Thunderstorm WindRapid City$5,000A tree and large limbs fell in a backyard and on a car.
August 2011HailRapid City$5,000no account filed
May 1994HailRapid City$5,000no account filed
August 2007HailRapid City$2,000Two house windows were broken by large hail.
July 2001Thunderstorm WindRapid City$2,000Several power poles were blown down by thunderstorm winds.
July 2013HailRapid City$1,000Large hail cracked windows and stripped leaves off trees.
May 1993HailRapid City$500Hail from .5 to 1.5 inches in diameter was reported northwest through west of Rapid City and in the Johnson Siding area.
June 1996HailRapid City$500no account filed
May 1993HailRapid City$50no account filed

Every storm recorded in Pennington County

Map coverage status

No historic map-sheet match is published for this property yet. That does not mean no map exists. This record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary. Browse the county's mapped places while that work is pending.

Listed places nearby

6 within 8 miles

Other National Register properties close enough to walk or drive between, ordered by distance from this one. Both positions come from the same geocoding pass that matched these properties to their map sheets.

Photograph PropertyDistance Listed
Glenn W. Shaw House0.2 miles2002
Swander Bakery Building0.4 miles2001
Rapid City West Boulevard Historic District (Boundary Increase)0.5 miles1995
Pap Madison Cabin0.5 miles2008
Rapid City West Boulevard Historic District0.6 miles1974
Zack Holmes House0.7 miles1982

Sources for this property

National Archives recordThe nomination case file for reference 90000956 in Record Group 79.
Wikipedia articleCommunity-written account of this property, licensed CC BY-SA.
Pennington CountyAll 59 listed properties in this county.

Provenance

  • Listing record. National Park Service National Register of Historic Places, listed-properties dataset, current to 2026-05-22.
  • Map join. Address geocoded through the United States Census geocoder, then tested against the published boundary of every sheet in the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection.
  • How this page is made. Listing fields come from federal records; map-sheet coverage is a labelled coordinate-to-boundary calculation, not a source-field claim.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.