RAPID CITY, SD—Tonight’s Rapid City Council meeting will include a mayoral proclamation designating May as National Historic Preservation Month and presentation of the 2025 recipients of the Norm E. Nelson Preservation Achievement Awards.
The Rapid City Historic Preservation Commission has selected three recipients for the achievement awards. The award recognizes local efforts to restore and rehabilitate historic structures in a way that respects and preserves the community’s history.
The 2025 recipients of the Norm E. Nelson Preservation Achievement Award are as follows:
• Copper Canyon Homes – for excellence in the restoration of the “Zack Holmes House” at 818 Saint James Street
• John & Sherri Raforth – for excellence in the rehabilitation of the West Boulevard District Home at 926 Quincy Street
• Hills Properties – for excellence in façade improvements at 510 Saint Joseph Street in the Downtown Commercial Historic District
City Council Vice President Pat Roseland will be chairing tonight’s Council meeting and will share the mayoral proclamation from Mayor Jason Salamun designating May at National Historic Preservation Month.
“Historic preservation is an effective tool for managing growth, revitalizing neighborhoods, fostering local pride and maintaining community character while enhancing livability,” states the mayoral proclamation. “It is important to celebrate the role of history in our lives and the contributions made by dedicated individuals in helping to preserve the tangible aspects of the heritage that has shaped us as a people.”
Nelson was a founding member of the West Boulevard Association, authored materials on neighborhood historic houses and served on the City’s Historic Preservation Commission and Historic Sign Review Committee for many years. Nelson owned and operated a local print shop for many years and also served as a college professor and public school teacher. He passed away in 2009.
