Visit the Historic Alex Johnson Hotel

Step back into the roaring 1920s at the Alex Johnson Hotel in Rapid City, South Dakota. This National Historic Landmark is still hosting guests as it has for nearly 80 years.

The hotel, which is a curious tribute to both the original inhabitants of the area, the Lakota Sioux Native Americans, and the influx of German immigrants that arrived in the area in the 1860s. The exterior of the hotel is in Tudor style; the exterior contains various Native American symbols, many of them engraved in the original bricks, still part of the construction of the hotel.

Alex Johnson, the founder of the hotel, was the Vice President of the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad. He was a great admirer of the Sioux Nation and wanted the hotel that bore his name to be somewhat of a shrine to the Native American culture. Construction of the hotel began in 1927, coincidentally only one day after the commencement of work on nearby Mt. Rushmore. The hotel opened its doors for guests on July 1, 1928, and hasn't stopped since.

Through the years, many presidents, celebrities and dignitaries have visited the hotel. Perhaps the most famous tribute to this landmark can be found in the Alfred Hitchcock 1959 thriller, "North by Northwest," starring Cary Grant. Grant's character stays at the hotel during his trip to South Dakota (which climaxes with the thrilling chase across the heads of Mt. Rushmore).

Although the film portrays the hotel as having a 1950's air to it; it has since been renovated back to the splendor of its original late 1920s design. As a matter of fact, stepping into the lobby, one gets the impression they have stepped back into time. The six-storey hotel has 143 rooms; all of which have been lovingly restored to their original splendor.