RAPID CITY, S.D. – The 1972 Black Hills Flood – Remembrance & Renewal committee has adopted and ratified an official schedule of events for the community-wide 40th anniversary memorial June 8-10. The memorial will honor the 238 lives lost in the Black Hills Flood – as well as educate the public about flood safety.
Friends of Rapid City Parks participated in the planning committee that organized the events and involvement of key community members.
Commemorative program booklet includes first hand recollections and personal stories
The commemorative weekend will include a variety of events occurring simultaneously at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, The Journey Museum, The Dahl Arts Center, Rapid City Public Library and Main Street Square.
The weekend will commence Friday, June 8 with the following events:
Rushmore Plaza Civic Center: Communities, organizations and individuals will be invited to set up personal flood exhibits and memorabilia beginning Friday at 9 a.m. Exhibits will be open to the public all weekend. On Saturday, tours of the flood path will be given by the Rapid City Convention & Visitors Bureau. Saturday presentations will include Native American drumming and the 1972 Black Hills Flood video throughout the afternoon. From 4-5 p.m., refreshments sponsored by Coca-Cola Bottling will be served by the Rotary Club of Rapid City.
The Journey Museum: The exhibit “Mega Flood – The 1972 Awakening” will be shown in the Adelstein Gallery during museum hours June 8-10. At 7 p.m. Friday, the public is invited to attend a special presentation, “Remembering the 1972 Flood: A Panel of Experts,” moderated by Ray Summers. Starting at 10 a.m. Friday, the Journey will host walking tours along the Rapid City Greenway from the Journey Museum to Memorial Park. On Saturday, tours will be held throughout the day with the last tour held at 2 p.m.
Dahl Arts Center: All weekend, the Rapid City Arts Council and Dakota Artists Guild will showcase a “Remembrance and Renewal” exhibit, meant to engage community-wide conversation of new and original artwork inspired by tragedy, loss, renewal and rejuvenation. The exhibit will be shown in the Shaver Gallery until Aug. 9.
Rapid City Public Library: Beginning at 9 a.m. Friday, the library will host onsite oral history recordings throughout the weekend. Community members can record their remembrances of the 1972 flood. Individualized stories will be digitalized and shared on the library website under Flood Archives.
Rapid City Greenway: Friends of Rapid City Parks will hold a memory walk beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday at Braeburn Park and concluding at Sioux Park. Other organizations have been invited to turn out members to ride, run, disc golf, flyfish, skate, picnic and stroll in the greenway.
The Black Hills Flood—Remembrance & Renewal convocation will be held Saturday, June 9 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Fine Arts Auditorium. Doors open at 5:30 p.m
The community-wide 1972 Flood Memorial Service will take place Sunday, June 10, beginning at 1 p.m. in the Fine Arts Auditorium at the Civic Center.