Hot Springs would look like a thousand other brick-and-stick cities across America if not for Fred Evans, an Ohio-born optimist who came to the Black Hills for gold and became obsessed with building a resort city from the red sandstone. Admirers of historic architecture will enjoy Evans’ vision. Downtown shops and stores — as well as the museum, city hall and VA hospital — were all constructed more than a century ago from the sandstone. Fire and human neglect have been the biggest threats to the structures, but fortunately today’s storekeepers and city activists are dedicated to preserving them. You’ll have numerous opportunities to enjoy both the exteriors and interiors of the unusual buildings.