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Image for event: Before the Flood

Before the Flood

Mayor Fred Dusek and the Fight to Shape Postwar Rapid City
2026-02-15 15:00:00 2026-02-15 16:00:00 America/Denver Before the Flood Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room

Sunday, February 15
3:00pm - 4:00pm

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Join historian Eric John Abrahamson to explore Mayor Fred Dusek's Rapid Creek policies and their impact before Rapid City's devastating 1972 flood.

Eric John Abrahamson, historian and founder of Vantage Point Historical Services, has spent three decades writing histories of corporations, cultural institutions, and Rapid City, with work featured in the Wall Street Journal and Foreign Affairs.

AGE GROUP: | Adults |

EVENT TYPE: | Educational | Community Wide |

TAGS: | flood |

Rapid City Public Library Downtown
Phone: 605-394-6139
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Rapid City Public Library Downtown

Mon, Aug 24 9:00AM to 7:00PM
Tue, Aug 25 9:00AM to 7:00PM
Wed, Aug 26 9:00AM to 7:00PM
Thu, Aug 27 9:00AM to 7:00PM
Fri, Aug 28 10:00AM to 6:00PM
Sat, Aug 29 10:00AM to 6:00PM
Sun, Aug 30 10:00AM to 6:00PM
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Upcoming events

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Little Owl Tuesday Story Time
Tue, Aug 25, 9:30am - 10:00am
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Join in on the fun and listen to popular stories and songs with one of our library storytellers! Designed for preschoolers, but all are welcome!
Storytime & Crafts with Jane
Tue, Aug 25, 10:15am - 11:00am
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
4-H Youth Program Advisor Jane Amiotte shares stories that connect children to nature, followed by a craft.
Curiosity Club - Back to School Vision Boards
Tue, Aug 25, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Design a vision board and visually map out your goals for the upcoming school year!
Bring Your Own Book Club at the Alex Johnson
Tue, Aug 25, 5:15pm - 6:00pm
Starbucks at the Hotel Alex Johnson
Bring your current read to the Starbucks at the Alex Johnson Hotel for bookish conversation, librarian recommendations, and complimentary coffee!
Bedazzled Book Covers
Wed, Aug 26, 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Bling out your favorite book with gemstones! Bring one from home, give a discarded book a new home, or buy one to decorate from our bookstore. All other supplies will be provided.
Baby Bumblebee Story Time
Thu, Aug 27, 9:30am - 10:00am
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Join us for a story time specially curated for children ages birth to 3 and their families. Bring your little ones for an exciting experience filled with stories, movement, and fun!
Little Explorers - Black Hills Animals
Thu, Aug 27, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Get to know the wildlife of the Black Hills with activities that explore where animals live, what they eat, and how they survive.
Chapter Chat Book Club - I See You've Called in Dead by John Kenney
Thu, Aug 27, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Conference Room
The Office meets Six Feet Under meets About a Boy in this coming-of-middle-age tale about having a second chance to write your life's story.
Teen Book Bakes - Personal Pizzas
Fri, Aug 28, 3:30pm - 5:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Learn how to make delicious homemade pizza, starting with scratch-made sauce and then building your perfect pizza to snack on!
Teen Tech Take-Apart
Sat, Aug 29, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Have you ever wondered how a keyboard actually works? What really makes a clock tick? Join us to disassemble everyday technology to take a gander inside.
Donuts & Documentaries - My Dearest Fu Bao
Sun, Aug 30, 3:00pm - 5:30pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
As beloved panda Fu Bao returns to China, her devoted keepers face an emotional farewell in this heartfelt documentary.
First Tuesday Storytime with the Rapid City Fire Department
Tue, Sep 01, 9:30am - 10:00am
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Join the Rapid City Fire Department for a fun morning of stories, then explore a real firetruck afterwards in front of the library!
Curiosity Club - Lego Club
Tue, Sep 01, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Free-build your own design or complete the librarian's challenge for a small prize!
Bring Your Own Book Club at the Alex Johnson
Tue, Sep 01, 5:15pm - 6:00pm
Starbucks at the Hotel Alex Johnson
Bring your current read to the Starbucks at the Alex Johnson Hotel for bookish conversation, librarian recommendations, and complimentary coffee!
Hunger Games Book Club - Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
Wed, Sep 02, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Revisit Panem before the new Sunrise on the Reaping movie this November! Join us as we continue our monthly journey through the Hunger Games series with book four, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
Baby Bumblebee Story Time
Thu, Sep 03, 9:30am - 10:00am
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Join us for a story time specially curated for children ages birth to 3 and their families. Bring your little ones for an exciting experience filled with stories, movement, and fun!
Little Explorers - Ice & Snow Adventures
Thu, Sep 03, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Explore the science of ice and snow through hands-on activities and chilly discoveries.
Teen Crafternoon - Pointillism and Stippling
Fri, Sep 04, 3:30pm - 5:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Discover how tiny dots and delicate lines can create incredible art. Explore two unique styles, then create your own masterpiece!
Computer-Aided Design Club - Chess Pieces
Sat, Sep 05, 10:30am - 11:30am
Rapid City Public Library Downtown
Learn the basics of computer-aided design (CAD) while creating fun, hands-on digital projects.
Bird Collisions in the Anthropocene: - Art and Urban Ecology Workshop
Sat, Sep 05, 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Create a fabric bird replica with BirdSafe Rapid City and contribute to a nationwide art installation raising awareness about bird-window collisions and urban ecology.
Library Closure
Sun, Sep 06, All day
Rapid City Public Library Downtown
The library will be closed in observance of Labor Day.
Library Closure
Mon, Sep 07, All day
Rapid City Public Library Downtown
The library will be closed in observance of Labor Day.
Little Owl Tuesday Story Time
Tue, Sep 08, 9:30am - 10:00am
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Join in on the fun and listen to popular stories and songs with one of our library storytellers! Designed for preschoolers, but all are welcome!
Curiosity Club - Pyramid Slingshots
Tue, Sep 08, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Build a slingshot from simple craft supplies and explore the fun of engineering and design!
Bring Your Own Book Club at the Alex Johnson
Tue, Sep 08, 5:15pm - 6:00pm
Starbucks at the Hotel Alex Johnson
Bring your current read to the Starbucks at the Alex Johnson Hotel for bookish conversation, librarian recommendations, and complimentary coffee!
Maker Mania for Upper Elementary
Wed, Sep 09, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Learn about the parts of flowers and their reproduction through dissection!
Registration opens Wednesday, August 26 2026 at 9:00am
Family Craft Night
Wed, Sep 09, 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Make a craft or two (or even three!) with your family at our new monthly craft event! We?ll have a variety of supplies and examples ready for you to explore, so don?t be afraid to try something new.
Baby Bumblebee Story Time
Thu, Sep 10, 9:30am - 10:00am
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Join us for a story time specially curated for children ages birth to 3 and their families. Bring your little ones for an exciting experience filled with stories, movement, and fun!
Little Explorers - Desert Expeditions
Thu, Sep 10, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Discover how desert plants and animals survive and beat the heat!
The Write Stuff - Children's Creative Writing Group
Thu, Sep 10, 3:30pm - 5:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Calling all young creative writers! Join us for a creative writing workshop designed for children ages 8 - 12.
Teen #FandomFriday - Anime Worry Stones
Fri, Sep 11, 3:30pm - 5:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Create an anime-themed worry stone with colorful polymer clay and make a unique pocket-sized keepsake.
Books with Bernard
Sat, Sep 12, 10:30am - 11:30am
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Youth Services
Boost your reading skills and have a tail-wagging good time! Join Bernard, a certified therapy dog, for a fun and furry reading adventure.
Maker Mania for Upper Elementary - Flower Dissection
Sat, Sep 12, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Learn about the parts of flowers and their reproduction through dissection!
Registration opens Saturday, August 29 2026 at 10:00am
Frozen Story Time - with Black Hills Community Theatre
Sun, Sep 13, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Enjoy a magical Frozen story time with BHCT actors portraying favorite characters, then snap photos with the cast and create a craft that will melt even the iciest heart!
Gentle Chair Yoga - with Sol Yoga Collective
Mon, Sep 14, 10:30am - 11:15am
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Restore your mind and invigorate your body with Sol Yoga Collective at the library! In this safe and comfortable environment, you'll be guided through beginner's yoga poses and stretches.
RCPL Board Meeting
Mon, Sep 14, 12:00pm - 1:30pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Hoyt Room
RCPL Monthly Board Meeting
Sit & Stitch Knitting Club
Mon, Sep 14, 5:00pm - 6:30pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Conference Room
Bring your needles, hooks, and yarn for an evening of fiber arts! Don't have equipment? The library has some that you can use for the class! Join us for camaraderie and snacks!
Voter Registration Day
Tue, Sep 15, All day
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Lobby
Your vote starts here! Stop by our lobby to register, verify your voter status, and prepare for this year's midterms. A valid photo ID is required.
Little Owl Tuesday Story Time
Tue, Sep 15, 9:30am - 10:00am
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Join in on the fun and listen to popular stories and songs with one of our library storytellers! Designed for preschoolers, but all are welcome!
Storytime & Crafts with Jane
Tue, Sep 15, 10:15am - 11:00am
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
4-H Youth Program Advisor Jane Amiotte shares stories that connect children to nature, followed by a craft.
Curiosity Club - Candy Geometry
Tue, Sep 15, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Explore engineering and mathematics by building 3D structures out of candy!
Bring Your Own Book Club at the Alex Johnson
Tue, Sep 15, 5:15pm - 6:00pm
Starbucks at the Hotel Alex Johnson
Bring your current read to the Starbucks at the Alex Johnson Hotel for bookish conversation, librarian recommendations, and complimentary coffee!
Coffee and Coversations - Crazy Horse Memorial University
Wed, Sep 16, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Join staff from Crazy Horse Memorial University to explore the university's history, mission, and support for Indigenous students pursuing higher education.
Library Dice Legion - Tabletop RPG Club
Wed, Sep 16, 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Welcome to The Library, a place for adventuring parties to convene and take part in glorious battles. Everyone's invited to play, whether it's your first time playing or you're a seasoned adventurer.
Baby Bumblebee Story Time
Thu, Sep 17, 9:30am - 10:00am
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Join us for a story time specially curated for children ages birth to 3 and their families. Bring your little ones for an exciting experience filled with stories, movement, and fun!
Little Explorers - Forest Quests
Thu, Sep 17, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Explore forests, wildlife, and nature with games, then make a snack for yourself!
Black Hills Financial Planning Presents - Maximizing Social Security Benefits
Thu, Sep 17, 5:00pm - 6:30pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Learn strategies for maximizing Social Security benefits, including when to claim, how income impacts benefits, and ways couples can increase lifetime retirement income.
Level Up! Teen Gaming Night - Nintendo Switch Sports
Fri, Sep 18, 3:30pm - 5:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Challenge your friends in Nintendo Switch Sports! Try a variety of fun sports and see who comes out on top.
Custer State Park Present - Fire, Friend or Foe?
Sat, Sep 19, 10:30am - 11:30am
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Learn about the dangers and benefits of wildland fires with a Custer State Park ranger and discover how fire plays an important role in healthy ecosystems.
Teen Kitchen Skills - Knife Skills & Guacamole
Sat, Sep 19, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Learn essential knife skills with a local nutritionist, then put your new skills to work by making fresh, delicious guacamole.
Compound Butter Making - with Pennington County Master Gardener Roxene Powell
Sun, Sep 20, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Join a Master Gardener to discover how to grow and use herbs, then turn your harvest into flavorful compound butters through sweet and savory recipes. Samples provided!
Making Mini Zines with SDSMT
Sun, Sep 20, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Join faculty from the South Dakota Mines Department of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences and Science, Technology & Society program to learn zine history and create your own mini-zine!
Create your Own Sugar Scrub
Mon, Sep 21, 5:00pm - 6:30pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Mix, customize, and create your own sugar scrub! Choose your favorite scents and ingredients to make a personalized scrub to take home.
Little Owl Tuesday Story Time
Tue, Sep 22, 9:30am - 10:00am
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Join in on the fun and listen to popular stories and songs with one of our library storytellers! Designed for preschoolers, but all are welcome!
Storytime & Crafts with Jane
Tue, Sep 22, 10:15am - 11:00am
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
4-H Youth Program Advisor Jane Amiotte shares stories that connect children to nature, followed by a craft.
Curiosity Club - Wind-Powered Cars
Tue, Sep 22, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Construct a wind-powered car using craft materials, then see how far and how fast it can go!
Bring Your Own Book Club at the Alex Johnson
Tue, Sep 22, 5:15pm - 6:00pm
Starbucks at the Hotel Alex Johnson
Bring your current read to the Starbucks at the Alex Johnson Hotel for bookish conversation, librarian recommendations, and complimentary coffee!
Sips & Signs - A Community Conversation About Sepsis with Monument Health
Wed, Sep 23, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Join Shelby Lynass from Monument Health's Quality, Safety, & Risk Management team to learn the warning signs, symptoms, and risk factors of sepsis during Sepsis Awareness Month.
An Evening with Longmire Author Craig Johnson
Wed, Sep 23, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
The Monument - Alpine/Ponderosa Rooms
Experience an evening of discussion and readings with Craig Johnson, author of the popular Longmire novels that inspired the hit Netflix series.Register
Baby Bumblebee Story Time
Thu, Sep 24, 9:30am - 10:00am
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Join us for a story time specially curated for children ages birth to 3 and their families. Bring your little ones for an exciting experience filled with stories, movement, and fun!
Little Explorers - Ocean Exploration
Thu, Sep 24, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Dive into ocean habitats and discover underwater creatures!
Chapter Chat Book Club - Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Thu, Sep 24, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Conference Room
Mary Shelley's seminal novel of the scientist whose creation becomes a monster.
Registration opens Tuesday, September 1 2026 at 9:00am
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