Red brick building of Prairie Edge at the corner of Main Street and 6th Street in Rapid City, S.D., is unmistakable. The two-story building has a stunning sculpture, created by Dale Lamphere, of an older Lakota giving a younger person their name, titled “Hunkayapi Ceremony.” The statue not only marks the store’s location, it sets the tone for visitors stepping inside a unique combination of art gallery, Sioux trading post, and general store. Once inside, it’s hard to leave.
Immediately, visitors entering from Main Street are drawn to the display of Pendleton brand blankets covering the wall, then the array of goods on hand: South Dakota made coffee, treats, kitchen wares, and more. But a deeper look reveals the true beauty of Prairie Edge.
“As an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe who grew up on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, I have always had a deep interest in the preservation of the Northern Plains Tribal culture,” says Larry Larson, Western photographer, Rapid City local and frequent shopper.
“Prairie Edge is a world-class outlet harboring a beautiful atmosphere. But it also offers authentic Native American products—not only for the millions of tourists annually visiting the sacred Black Hills, but also our local and national tribal communities. It’s always an experience.”
Established in the early 1980s by Ray Hillenbrand, the concept of Prairie Edge encompassed two goals: to educate the public about and preserve the heritage and culture of the Northern Plains Indians and to provide those same Northern Plains Indian artists an outlet for their work. Since its inception, the store has grown to a renowned art gallery and cultural center.
To begin the grand experience, visitors should not be in a rush. Start with the general store, but don’t fill your arms up with goodies there, because the true treasures are to come.
The Trading Post
An entrance off 6th Street skips the wares of the shop and leads those interested in traditional goods and craft items straight to the Sioux Trading Post. The trading post is open to the full store and welcomes visitors to wander in to view the items.
From display cabinets filled with beads to hides tacked on the wall and stacked around the post, one look at the furs, feathers, shells and cloth items ignites a crafter’s fire. All the supplies needed to craft a traditional plains Indian quillwork or beadwork item are available.
The trading post shows the start of the artwork of handmade items that are on display in the Plains Indian Gallery, across the store.
Where Art Meets Education
In the main shopping area, an upper level draws visitors to view the world’s largest selection of glass beads in the Italian glass bead library. Prairie Edge obtained case after case of dazzling beads of 2,600 varieties after the Societa Veneziana Conterie, a Venetian guild that supplied fur traders in the 19th century, closed its doors. There are many similar beads on display in the Sioux Trading Post, but the upstairs collection, which is over 70 tons of beads, is for display only.
Continuing upstairs will open visitors’ eyes to the fine art gallery that features a unique array of art from artists around the country. Oil paintings depicting herds of buffalo, pottery showcasing intricate spinning designs, sculptures, photographs, glassware and other collectables are available to purchase. There is something to fit nearly every budget in the fine art gallery, but moreover, there is a piece to speak to every visitor’s heart.
Enjoy the view from the rail of the fine art gallery down into the Plains Indian Gallery. Authentic crafts and art have been selected to display Plains Indians materials and techniques handed down for generations among the Lakota, Crow, Cheyenne, Shoshoni, Arapaho and Assinboine tribes. Many large pieces are available for purchase, like headdresses, as are smaller items like feathers adorned with beading. Walking the gallery can bring a visitor back to the time when horses were the only means to traverse the plains.
Take the Culture Home
Many visitors are stunned by the beauty of the Black Hills, located just west of Rapid City, and the Badlands National Park, just east. The Prairie Edge offers visitors a way to take a piece of the heritage and culture home not only through art or crafts, but also in the form of books and music.
Downstairs and upstairs in the Plains Indian Gallery are shelves of books that entertain and educate readers of all ages. Also, home goods and handcrafted items from local artisans are on display. It’s a smorgasbord of goodies that can easily make for a hefty shopping tab!
Whether admiring a hand-crafted War Shirt, trying on bracelets or Pendleton sweatshirts, picking up a Christmas ornament or selecting a fine art print, Prairie Edge brings Western and Native American heritage to life like no other shopping experience in the West. No one can leave the museum-like immersive shop without a souvenir.
Visit the Prairie Edge website here.
This article about Prairie Edge appeared in the Winter 2023 issue of Western Life Today magazine. Click here to subscribe!
