I was in downtown Rapid City last weekend and saw the new visitor info kiosks. They’re pretty cool.

The kiosks each have a large map of downtown Rapid City, showing where the stores, the parking lots and other places are located. Destination Rapid City, a new downtown marketing group, put up the kiosks to help visitors find their way around.

It’s a great idea. I know I’ve given my share of directions to confused visitors wandering around downtown. (By the way, the City of Presidents statues are helpful — “Botticelli’s? Sure, take a right at Ronald Reagan and another right at George Bush. If you get to Calvin Coolidge, you’ve gone too far.”

The new kiosks came after one confused visitor, Roger Brooks, bemoaned his inability to find his way around Rapid City. But Roger Brooks is no ordinary confused traveler. He’s founder of Destination Development, a consulting firm that helps cities improve their visitor image. Rapid City brought Brooks in a couple of years ago to help find ways to create a downtown Rapid City brand.

In fact, Destination Rapid City itself is a result of Brooks’ work.

“Under our umbrella the community, business, residents and visitors will find a vibrant city center that is alive with shopping, dining, residential amenities, and job creation,” according to John Brewer, president of Destination Rapid City.

And the downtown kiosks are part of a wayfinding system that Brooks recommended. Each has a downtown map, a directory and other information of use to visitors. The other side is decorated with artwork by Susan Turnbull.

They tell me there are seven kiosks downtown, although I didn’t count them. There’s even one at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.

Now when I encounter confused visitors in downtown Rapid City, I can direct them to the nearest kiosk.

“Just take a left at Thomas Jefferson — You can’t miss it.”