Founder’s Free Day: Celebrating 150 Years of Rapid City

Wednesday, February 25, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
FREE Admission All Day

The Journey Museum invites the community to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Rapid City with a special Founder’s Free Day. To mark this milestone, the museum will offer free admission and extended hours, along with the debut of a new exhibit exploring Rapid City’s earliest history.

The Black Hills (Ȟe Sápa) have been home to Indigenous people for over 12,000 years, with archaeological and oral histories documenting nearly 2,000 years of human presence near present-day Rapid City. The exhibit traces these deep roots through early trade, conflict, settlement, and the city’s founding in 1876.

A Mayor Jason Salamun will cut the ribbon at 5:30 p.m., presenting the newly reimagined permanent exhibit exhibit exploring the founding of Rapid City through the objects and stories of the city’s founders, John Brennon and Sam Scott.

The Journey Museum gratefully acknowledges the continued support of the City of Rapid City, whose partnership makes it possible to offer free, meaningful opportunities for our community to learn, reflect, and grow together.