RAPID CITY, SD – The South Dakota Governor’s award-winning West River History Conference is scheduled for its 34th gathering in Rapid City, Thursday and Friday, Oct. 1-2.
“We’re a local history storytelling event that meets annually at unique Black Hills venues,” said conference president Tim Velder. “This year we’re excited to visit Rapid City because of its incredible history.”
The annual gathering of scholars brings together amateur and professional historians from around the region. The public is welcome to attend the 34th conference with registration. Schedule of events and other details are available at the website: www.westriverhistoryconference.org
During the conference attendees will hear many dozens of stories of other communities and characters representing all of western South Dakota, eastern Wyoming and the northern plains region.
Since 1993, the West River History Conference, a non-profit organization, has been dedicated to preserving the historic record of western South Dakota and the northern Great Plains.
A pre-conference gathering on Wednesday, September 30, will feature ‘insider’ tours of historic Rapid City by trolley courtesy Visit Rapid City, and special access and events on the beautiful western campus of the South Dakota State Game, Fish and Parks department.
The author’s reception will feature new book releases from some regional historians, Matthew Davies, South Dakota Humanities Council One Book author, Brookings; Brad Tennant, Mitchell; Paul Horsted, Custer; Bruce Roseland, 8th South Dakota State Poet Laureate, Spearfish; many South Dakota State Historical Press authors, Pierre and others.
The full conference will open at Terra Sancta Retreat Center, Thursday morning, October 1. Throughout the day, researchers take the stage every 30 minutes, and topics will range from the making of Mount Rushmore National Memorial to the 150th anniversary of Greasy Grass (Battle of Little Big Horn) including discoveries about famous Black Hills photographers of the Gold Rush period and more.
Historian authors will be available to sign copies of their books. Friday, Oct. 2, the conference will continue with more exciting 25-minute sessions, history presentations and historian awards.
Many local and regional researchers will be honored at the conference: The Herb Blakely Award will be presented to Donovin Sprague, Rapid City, SD, for outstanding contributions to local and regional history, a sense of American patriotism and efforts to further the concepts of good citizenship.
The conference will remember and honor the following South Dakota historians and influencers for historic preservation: Stanford Adelstein, Joseph Marshall III. The conference will bestow certificates to the winners judged to be the best scholarly works presented during the 2025 conference with a cash award to each winner from Leland D. Case Library for Western Historical Studies at Black Hill State University in amateur and professional categories.
The award-winning KIDS WRITE HISTORY! will present certificates and a cash award to the top 4th grade essay writers in their school classrooms this year, says KWH! Director Julie Stoll, PhD, Piedmont.
