Bev Pechan's Books

Rapid City: America's Playground

By: Bev Pechan,Bill Groethe

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Rapid City: America's Playground

By: Bev Pechan,Bill Groethe

Rapid City, "the Summer Playground of America," was founded in 1876 by gold seekers, fueled by a rush to the Black Hills following Gen. George Custer's 1874 expedition. When the railroad arrived a decade later, cattlemen replaced prospectors, and Rapid City remained a hub of activity. By the end of World War I, the popularity of the automobile and newly constructed roads helped to shape area tourism. Mount Rushmore, 23 miles distant, was under construction in 1927, and the new Hotel Alex Johnson was completed in 1928. Together they were natural draws, complementing the pine-scented beauty surrounding Rapid City and making the city the center of western hospitality. As World War II ended, the traveling public again sought out Rapid City and its surrounding attractions as its destination for that memorable vacation out West. Today not much has changed. The Hotel Alex Johnson continues to be a landmark headquarters for tour operators, and Mount Rushmore remains a premier visitor site. And now Rapid City is further enhanced by the City of Presidents project, a work in progress in its historic downtown district.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

130

Publisher

Arcadia Library Editions

Published Date

ISBN 10

1531632343

ISBN 13

9781531632342

Deadwood: 1876-1976

By: Bev Pechan,Bill Groethe

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Deadwood: 1876-1976

By: Bev Pechan,Bill Groethe

Think about the most romantically notorious Wild West town you ever heard of, and most likely Deadwood would head the list. Deadwood has more than its share of legends, heroes, and brigands who traveled through or made their homes here: Wild Bill and Calamity Jane to be sure, but also Buffalo Bill, Wyatt Earp, Captain Jack Crawford (the "Poet Scout"), California Joe, Seth Bullock, Poker Alice, and many more. No other frontier town--not Dodge City, Tombstone, Abilene, or Cripple Creek--could claim them all. Deadwood is the champion, and was the happening place in the late 1870s. This legacy lives on today as casino gambling--perhaps ironically but fittingly--financed the preservation of historic downtown Deadwood begining in 1989, an area that is now designated a National Historic Landmark.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

130

Publisher

Arcadia Library Editions

Published Date

ISBN 10

1531623743

ISBN 13

9781531623746

Remembering Rapid City: A Nostalgic Look at the 1920s Through the 1970s

By: Bev Pechan,Bill Groethe

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Remembering Rapid City: A Nostalgic Look at the 1920s Through the 1970s

By: Bev Pechan,Bill Groethe

Rapid City-"The Summer Playground of America"-was founded in 1876 by gold seekers, fueled by a rush to the Black Hills following the Custer Expedition of 1874. Merchants supplying the miners and military units patrolling the region were the ones who ultimately prospered, however. When the railroad arrived a decade later, cattlemen replaced the prospectors, and Rapid City remained a hub of activity. By the end of World War I, the popularity of the automobile and newly constructed roads helped to shape area tourism. Mount Rushmore, 23 miles distant, was under construction in 1927, and the new Alex Johnson Hotel was completed in 1928. Together, they were natural draws to complement the pine-scented beauty surrounding Rapid City, making it the center of Western hospitality. On June 9, 1972, a flood roared through the heart of the community, taking 238 lives. By the end of the decade, many new civic improvements began to change the face of Rapid City again. With this growth, Rapid City retains its early charm as the "gate city" of the Black Hills.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

130

Publisher

Arcadia Library Editions

Published Date

ISBN 10

1531613632

ISBN 13

9781531613631

Book's by Bev Pechan

Rapid City: America's Playground

Rapid City: America's Playground

Deadwood: 1876-1976

Deadwood: 1876-1976

Remembering Rapid City: A Nostalgic Look at the 1920s Through the 1970s

Remembering Rapid City: A Nostalgic Look at the 1920s Through the 1970s

Username

Password

Username

Password

Password again

Birthday

Email