Hot Springs, S.D.is home to attractions such as Evans Plunge and the fascinating Mammoth Site, but my personal favorite reason for visiting this Southern Hills city is the downtown architecture. Nearly three dozen elaborate old sandstone buildings, most constructed more than a century ago, are scattered along River Street as it follow Fall River through town.

It’s no surprise, then, that the National Register of Historic Places has named Hot Springs to its 2009 Destinations of Distinction list.

“A stunning oasis of soothing natural springs, Hot Springs is a national treasure,” said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust of Historic Preservation.  “It is a place that invites you to venture into the past, discover unexpected cultural treasures and breathe in the majesty of the American landscape.”

Hot Springs — the whole Black Hills, actually — are going to get plenty of publicity out of this.Here’s some of the text of the news release:

“Hot Springs, less than an hour from Mt. Rushmore, is famous for its healing waters, impressive collection of pink sandstone buildings, scenic beauty and excess of natural and cultural resources. For more than a century, Hot Springs has welcomed visitors who have come to enjoy the warm-water swimming pool of Evans Plunge.

“The plunge and its therapeutic healing water is a cornerstone of the history of Hot Springs and it is the oldest tourist attraction in the region.  At the flow rate of nearly 5,000 gallons per minute, Evans Plunge never contains the same water, changing entirely every hour and a half.  Today, the plunge has been updated to include an indoor water park, fitness center, hot tubs and steam rooms.

“Hot Springs is the perfect gateway to the magnificent beauty of the southern Black Hills. Just south of town is the Wild Horse Sanctuary, where more than 500 wild mustangs run free across 11,000 acres. This area is also renowned for Native American ceremonial sites, petroglyphs and spectacular scenery. Ten miles outside of Hot Springs is the Angostura Reservoir and Recreation area.   Showcasing the splendor of the southern Black Hills, the lake has room for boating, fishing and swimming, as well as 36 miles of shoreline and some of the finest sandy beaches in South Dakota.  The site is also ideal for leisurely hikes and bike rides.

“Archeology fans will find something to love in the area.  Hot Springs is home to the world-famous Mammoth Site, an active paleontology research site that includes the remains of 58 Ice Age mammoths and 27 other prehistoric species, most an estimated 26,000 years old.  One of the nation’s oldest National Parks, Wind Cave National Park is just minutes north of town.  It has 119 miles of known passageways loaded with a maze of unusual formations and is home to abundant wildlife such as bison, elk, deer, antelope, prairie dogs and coyotes.

“Hot Springs is the cultural capital of the Black Hills, offering an array of diverse shops, world-class art galleries, annual arts festivals, restaurants and hotel accommodations.   More than 35 sandstone structures are located in the downtown area.  From the paved Freedom Trail, which winds under a waterfall and along the banks of the Fall River in the heart of town, visitors can see the century-old buildings, including the four-story schoolhouse built in 1893, now home to the Fall River County Pioneer Museum, and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, which houses the Battle Mountain Museum.”

The public is invited to share stories about their favorite Distinctive Destinations at http://www.preservationnation.org/ddd.