Officers
Jean Oleson Kessloff, president
Jean served two terms as a member of the Rapid City Historic Preservation Commission. Was the historic preservation consultant on the 1886 Windsor block restoration in downtown Rapid City, and has restored her 1910 home in the West Boulevard Historic District. Jean was a 2015 recipient of the Governor’s award for history for her work in historic preservation in Rapid City.
Nancy Gowen, vice president
Honorary board member of Rapid City Library Foundation, past president and lifetime member of the Mount Rushmore Society. She is also a member of West Boulevard Neighborhood Association and Rapid City’s chapter of Quester’s International. She is a charter member of Historic Rapid City.
Adrienne Kerst, secretary
Adrienne possesses a graduate degree in Public Archaeology and her love for all things old led her to pursue work in the public and private sectors and as an independent consultant in such areas as architectural history and museum management. Before relocating back to Rapid City, she spent the last 8 years as director of the Luster African American Heritage Museum in Bartow Florida.
Bill Kessloff, treasurer
Currently on the board of Skyline Drive Preservation Inc., he is a past board member of Rapid City Regional Airport, past president of West Boulevard Neighborhood Association and former ex-officio to the Rapid City Historic Preservation Commission.
Directors
Sylvia Conrad
As a Rapid City Realtor for more than 43 years and with a special interest in historic properties, her efforts include preservation of the Madison Ranch outhouse and Madison collection at the Deadwood Museum. She is a charter member of Historic Rapid City.
Melody Jacobsen
Melody was born and raised on her family ranch north of Belle Fourche. She graduated from the University of South Dakota, volunteered with AmeriCorps, and worked with youth for many years. She was a Historic Rapid City Advisory Committee member and joined the board in 2019. Melody is Historic Rapid City’s photographer and social media staff.
Adriana Gianturco Saltonstall
Granddaughter of Valentine McGillycuddy and his second wife, Julia, she was educated at Smith College, UC Berkeley and Harvard Graduate School. In 1976 governor Jerry Brown appointed her as director of California Department of Transportation.
Advisory Committee Members
Donovin Sprague
A published author and historian, he is a part-time adjunct instructor at Black Hills State University, Spearfish, South Dakota, and part-time contractor for the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. A descendant of Chief Hump, and family descendant of Chief Crazy Horse, he is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.
Gavin Williams
Working as a project manager and estimator at Knecht Home Center in Rapid City, he has restored two homes in the West Boulevard Historic District.