Main Street

If you look closely at this 1902 street scene, you'll see some familiar buildings. Many of the structures on this block have been restored in recent years. And like a lot of historic preservation projects, this work involved a lot of removal. Removal of false fronts, sheet metal facades and steps over the years to make the building look "modern."

The third building from the left, identified in this photo as the John C. Haines Department Store, was Rapid City's J. C. Penney store for years. It was clad in light green, ceramic steel plates. In 1988, J.C. Penney moved to the Rushmore Mall, and its downtown building was left vacant for nearly two decades.