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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

Add to Calendar 2026-02-15 15:00:00 2026-02-15 16:00:00 America/Denver Before the Flood Join historian Eric John Abrahamson to explore Mayor Fred Dusek's Rapid Creek policies and their impact before Rapid City's devastating 1972 flood. Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room

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, Jan 19 9:00AM to 7:00PM
Tue, Jan 20 9:00AM to 7:00PM
Wed, Jan 21 9:00AM to 7:00PM
Thu, Jan 22 9:00AM to 7:00PM
Fri, Jan 23 10:00AM to 6:00PM
Sat, Jan 24 10:00AM to 6:00PM
Sun, Jan 25 10:00AM to 6:00PM
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Baby Bumblebee Story Time
Thu, Jan 22, 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 - Things That Move
Thu, Jan 22, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Discover how objects move, spin, and roll while exploring motion and force.
Teen Book Bakes - Boba and Bubble Teas
Fri, Jan 23, 3:30pm - 5:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Enjoy a classic Taiwanese drink and learn how to make your own popping Boba pearls! Mix up your favorite combos or try out some new flavors at this month's Teen Book Bakes.
Books with Bernard
Sat, Jan 24, 10:00am - 11:00am
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.
Minecrafting Day
Sat, Jan 24, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Join us for a screen-free, Minecraft-inspired crafting session! Geared toward children ages 5 - 11, but all ages welcome!
Sit & Stitch Knitting Club
Mon, Jan 26, 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!
Little Owl Tuesday Story Time
Tue, Jan 27, 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, Jan 27, 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 - Yarn Pom-Pom Creatures
Tue, Jan 27, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Learn how to wrap, trim, and decorate yarn to create your own pom-pom animals!
Library Lounge - Intro to E-Books & Movies
Wed, Jan 28, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Learn how to borrow e-books, e-audiobooks, and stream videos using Libby and Kanopy. Bring your device for real-time assistance and a hands-on demo.
Library Lounge - Intro to E-Books & Movies
Wed, Jan 28, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Learn how to borrow e-books, e-audiobooks, and stream videos using Libby and Kanopy. Bring your device for real-time assistance and a hands-on demo.
Baby Bumblebee Story Time
Thu, Jan 29, 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 - Builders in Space!
Thu, Jan 29, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Explore creativity, structures, and problem-solving in an out-of-this-world adventure.
Chapter Chat Book Club - Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
Thu, Jan 29, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
A clever mystery-within-a-mystery, Magpie Murders follows an editor who uncovers unsettling secrets hidden inside a bestselling author's final manuscript.
Teen Crafternoon - DIY Candle Painting
Fri, Jan 30, 3:30pm - 5:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Turn plain taper candles into amazing works of art with just a brush and some wax!
SDSMT Paleo Club at the Library
Sat, Jan 31, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Travel back in time with the SDSMT Paleo Club! Discover fascinating dinosaurs, uncover ancient fossils, and explore the prehistoric history of South Dakota.
Donuts & Documentaries - Three Identical Strangers
Sat, Jan 31, 3:00pm - 5:30pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Identical triplets become separated at birth and adopted by three different families. Years later, their amazing reunion becomes a global sensation, but it also unearths an unimaginable secret.
Creation Station - Painted Heart Puzzles
Sun, Feb 01, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Discover the creative possibilities of the Makerspace by painting your own laser-cut heart puzzle!
Little Owl Tuesday Story Time
Tue, Feb 03, 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, Feb 03, 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 - Lego Club
Tue, Feb 03, 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!
Internet Safety for your Child and Teen - with Pennington County Sheriff's Office
Wed, Feb 04, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Discover how children and teens are targeted online and learn how to help keep them safe. Explore the risks of social media and digital footprints, as well as common online threats.
Baby Bumblebee Story Time
Thu, Feb 05, 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 - Sensory Play
Thu, Feb 05, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Squish, scoop, shake, and listen as we explore feathers, nests, and bird sounds with hands-on sensory play.
Teen Crafternoon - Vision Boards
Fri, Feb 06, 3:30pm - 5:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Put your 2026 plans to paper and make them POP with a vision board.
Computer-Aided Design Club - Spinning Tops
Sat, Feb 07, 10:30am - 12:30pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Conference Room
Design a 3D ripcord top and learn the basics of computer-aided design!
RCPL Board Meeting
Mon, Feb 09, 12:00pm - 1:30pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Hoyt Room
RCPL Monthly Board Meeting
Sit & Stitch Knitting Club
Mon, Feb 09, 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!
Little Owl Tuesday Story Time
Tue, Feb 10, 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, Feb 10, 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 - Upcycled Bird Feeders
Tue, Feb 10, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
February is National Bird Feeding Month! Help your neighborhood birds by creating a tasty treat for them to hang in your yard!
Maker Mania for Upper Elementary - Design a Library!
Wed, Feb 11, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Design a library! To celebrate National Library Lovers Month, explore how library spaces are planned and create your own library diorama to be displayed throughout February.
Teen Bring Your Own Book Club - Romance
Wed, Feb 11, 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
It is the month of love, so grab your favorite YA romance book and share your love of reading!
Baby Bumblebee Story Time
Thu, Feb 12, 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 - Build-A-Bird
Thu, Feb 12, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Let?s build some birds using shapes, balance, and imagination!
Teen #FandomFriday - Paper Star Jars
Fri, Feb 13, 3:30pm - 5:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Learn a simple origami pattern that doubles as a stress reliever, easy to fold while you enjoy some hilarious anime!
Books with Bernard
Sat, Feb 14, 10:00am - 11:00am
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 - Design a Library!
Sat, Feb 14, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Hoyt Room
Design a library! To celebrate National Library Lovers Month, explore how library spaces are planned and create your own library diorama to be displayed throughout February.
Before the Flood - Mayor Fred Dusek and the Fight to Shape Postwar Rapid City
Sun, Feb 15, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Join historian Eric John Abrahamson to explore Mayor Fred Dusek's Rapid Creek policies and their impact before Rapid City's devastating 1972 flood.
Little Owl Tuesday Story Time
Tue, Feb 17, 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, Feb 17, 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 - Bird Brains Ornithology Lab
Tue, Feb 17, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Learn all about local birds and their habitats in this hands-on exploration lab!
Coffee and Coversations - Dig in with the Archaeological Research Center
Wed, Feb 18, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Cassie Vogt will join us to discuss current trends in archaeology, exciting projects happening across the state, and a behind-the-scenes look at how research is shaping our understanding of the past.
Library Dice Legion - Tabletop RPG Club
Wed, Feb 18, 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, Feb 19, 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 - Birds in Motion
Thu, Feb 19, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Flap and glide as we discover all the ways birds move!
Financial Strategies for Small Business Owners - with Black Hills Financial Planning
Thu, Feb 19, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Learn how smart tax shelters, asset protection tools, and exit planning strategies can help business owners keep more of what they earn, protect their assets, and plan for the future.
'The Librarians' - Screening with SDPB
Thu, Feb 19, 4:30pm - 7:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Explore how librarians balance and navigate national debates over books, community standards, and access to information in the special screening of 'The Librarians,' presented in partnership with SDPB
Level Up! Teen Gaming Night - Mario Party
Fri, Feb 20, 3:30pm - 5:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Team up with your friends to defeat some computer-operated villains, or compete against your pals in head-to-head mini games to see who comes out on top!
Custer State Park Presents - Wildness Winter Olympics
Sat, Feb 21, 10:30am - 11:30am
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Discover how animals show off their winter skills and survive the cold with Custer State Park.
SDSMT Paleo Club at the Library
Sat, Feb 21, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Travel back in time with the SDSMT Paleo Club! Discover fascinating dinosaurs, uncover ancient fossils, and explore the prehistoric history of South Dakota.
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