Celebrate President’s Day in a brand new way this year. After more than a year of development, Visit Rapid City created a City of Presidents Audio Tour for downtown Rapid City.
There are two ways to experience the new audio tour: a mobile tour or a dial-in tour. Plaques with a dial-in number and QR code will be placed by May 2024.
For Visit Rapid City, however, this tour is about even more. “As Visit Rapid City one of the things we wrestle with a lot is that we promote what other people build. It’s rare that we’re in the destination development space. This allowed us to take an existing asset and start to elevate the visitor experience,” said Visit Rapid City CEO, Brook Kaufman. “We know how beloved the presidents are. So, we started to explore, ‘how can we bring them to life?’”
Each stop allows people to “hear” the presidents tell their stories. Visit Rapid City staff researched and wrote scripts about each president. To enhance the experience, they used an AI voice generator to develop an audio recording. The stories include biographies and fun facts.
The mobile tour includes a detailed map and a guide to each statue, including an audio track, and a story.
If you prefer a dial-in tour instead, pick up a City of Presidents brochure from the Visit Rapid City office. Their office is on the second level of The Shops at Main Street Square. Then, dial the item number found in the brochure next to each president followed by the pound sign. You will soon hear the president come to life through your phone.
The City of Presidents started in 2000 as a way to honor the legacy and impact of each American president. Each of the presidents is a bronze cast, life-sized statue. Presidents are placed after they leave office and are no longer politically active.
