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Founders Rock

United States of America
Project Resources

In 1876, as the founders of Rapid City, South Dakota planned the layout of the city, Founders Rock attracted much attention for its prehistoric Native American rock art. The site of modern-day Founders Park, located along Rapid Creek, was previously utilized by the native Lakota and Cheyenne groups as a camp site to aid their movement through the Black Hills. The area later became home to various industries, including Rapid City's first electric power plant, a lumber mill, and a meat-processing facility. After a serious flood in 1972, the facilities shut down and the site became parkland. Today, Founders Park is a popular destination for hikers and rock climbers, and Founders Rock is particularly iconic for its unique inscriptions.

Preservation authorities have expressed concern about the historic places within the existing park, and efforts are being made to protect its landmarks. In May, 2013, CyArk contributed to these preservation efforts and scanned Founders Rock using innovative 3D laser scanning technology. A digital reconstruction of the site will soon be available on CyArk's web portal.

Open Heritage
Open Open Heritage

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