Turtle Soup | Pat Roseland - Rapid City's Unknown Sculptor: Emmet Sullivan

About this event

Learn about Emmet Sullivan, the artist and sculptor who created Rapid City’s iconic Dinosaur Park. Although Sullivan practiced law in North Dakota and Rapid City during the 1930s, he was also a talented artist whose work included relief carvings, small sculptures, and souvenirs for visitors to the Black Hills—including his well-known rattlesnake ashtrays. Drawing on years of research, this Turtle Soup presentation will explore Sullivan’s life and work, where the idea for Dinosaur Park originated, and how its larger-than-life dinosaurs were constructed. About The Speaker Pat Roseland served four years in the U.S. Navy and has lived on West Boulevard in Rapid City for over 33 years. He is a retired nurse anesthetist. He served three years on the Rapid City Common Council (2022–2025), including a year as Council Vice President. Pat received the Governor's Award for Historic Preservation and is a published author on Rapid City history. He currently serves as Vice Chair of the Journey Museum Board and Vice Chair of Journey On. Pat was appointed by Governor Larry Rhoden to the State Historical Society Board of Trustees for a 3 year term effective July 1, 2026.

Description from journeymuseum.org