Deadwood Preservation honors restoration of Rapid City’s historic McGillycuddy house
Cross-community partnership helps restore a frontier leader’s South Street home
RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) - At 727 South St. in Rapid City, years of volunteer dedication and regional teamwork were recognized Monday as Deadwood Preservation leaders presented an official plaque at the historic McGillycuddy House. The ceremony marked a major milestone in the ongoing effort to preserve the home of Dr. Valentine McGillycuddy, one of Rapid City’s most prominent founding figures.
McGillycuddy played a central role in shaping the Black Hills region during the late 19th century, serving as one of the area’s earliest frontier surgeons, Rapid City’s mayor, and dean of the South Dakota School of Mines. For local preservationists, restoring the aging structure has been a labor of love driven by volunteers, donors, and archival sleuthing.
“I’ve always loved historic preservation. I live in an old house in the Blvds. And we were looking for a project when we found this house,” said Jean Kessloff of Historic Rapid City. “And it didn’t look anything like it looks now. We ended up buying this house—and it was in a lot...