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Facilities & Directions

O'Harra Stadium

Thanks to the vision and perseverance of former president Dr. Cleophas O’Harra, the stadium and track named in his honor have been serving the university and area schools for over 77 years.

O'Harra StadiumO’Harra Memorial Stadium was dedicated on September 16, 1938.

An important milestone in advancing the cause of athletics at the SD Mines was the formation of the “ M” Club in 1922. The club members assisted at all athletic events, including high school track meets.

Although the building of a gymnasium fulfilled part of President O’Harra’s plan for an active athletic program at SD Mines, he also had a vision for an athletic field and a stadium. Based on the advice of a landscape artist named Phelps Myman, SD Mines obtained an open area southeast of the campus on which to build an athletic field.

In 1930, the SD Mines obtained the area and began to clear the land. Sigma Tau pledges were assigned to map the area and design improvements with a goal in mind of developing a field. On May 18, 1931, President O’Harra declared a holiday for students to bring their tools and work on leveling the land for the stadium. By the end of the day the students had done enough work on leveling that land that work could begin on building the stadium. In preparing the stadium site, good soil was hauled to the campus and slag was used to fill the excavation site.

The following year the project was continued with the arrival of the first Works Project Administration (WPA) laborers. The WPA worked on the football site from 1932 through 1936. In October of 1936, a WPA grant of $ 50,000 was received to complete the project. Because the grant only provided for unskilled labor, the SDSM&T Alumni Association decided to raise the necessary funds to hire the skilled labor to finish the field. The SDSM&T Alumni Association’s fundraising committee contacted 750 alumni to ask for donations. Meetings were held in each of the 26 alumni regions throughout the country to raise money for the stadium and finishing the field.

Based on a unique concept, the stadium field was surrounded on three sides by a natural horseshoe bowl. Three terraces were graded into the banks so sports events could be viewed from the approximately 350 automobile parking spaces. Viewing from the automobiles allowed additional bleacher seating for spectators.

The first football game played on the field, on the night the stadium was dedicated, was a Hardrocker triumph. SD Mines defeated South Dakota State Jackrabbits 18- 7. The Hardrockers had a very successful season that year, being one of only five in the nation with six-straight victories.

 

Directions to the School of Mines

Directions By Car

  • From the East - Go west on I-90 to Exit 57. Proceed south on West Boulevard I-190 and turn left on St Joseph St (one way). Continue through downtown (King Center #5 on map) – right on Birch St, to University Loop. (O’Harra Stadium #19 on map) just past main campus on St Joseph St.
  • From the West - Go east on I-90 to Exit 57. Proceed south on West Boulevard I-190 and turn left on St Joseph St (one way). Continue through downtown (King Center #5 on map) – right on Birch St to University Loop. (O’Harra Stadium#19 on map) just past main campus on St Joseph St.
  • From the South (Highway 16) - Travel north on Highway 16 into Rapid City and turn right onto St Joseph St (one way). Continue through downtown (King Center #5 on map) - right on Birch St, to University Loop. (O’Harra Stadium #19 on map) just past main campus on St Joseph Street.
  • From the West (Highway 44) - Travel east on Highway 44 (Jackson Blvd) to Main St. Turn right on Main St for ¼ mile until it divides and becomes St Joseph St (one way). Continue through downtown (King Center #5 on map) - right on Birch St, to University Loop. (O’Harra Stadium #19 on map) just past main campus on St Joseph Street.
  • From the East (Highway 44) - Travel west on Highway 44 (Omaha St) and turn left onto St Patrick St to St Joseph St and turn right (north). Go ½ mile and turn left (King Center#5 on map) on Birch St, to University Loop. (O’Harra Stadium #19 on map) just before main campus on St Joseph St.
  • From the South (Route 79) - Travel north on Highway 79 and take downtown exit to St Joseph St. Go ½ mile and turn left (King Center #5 on map) on Birch St, to University Loop. (O’Harra Stadium #19 on map) just before main campus on St Joseph St.

Directions By Air

  • Rapid City Regional Airport is served by Allegiant, Delta Airlines, Frontier, Northwest, and United Airlines.
  • The School of Mines is approximately 7 miles from the airport. Use the From the East (Route 44) directions to campus.