You found Frank!
Others know him as RF.

In 1869, Frank came to Sioux Falls as a 21 year-old only to find the city abandoned. Frank had a vision for what Sioux Falls could become, dreaming up a national campaign to spread the word about the city. 

He brought the railroad in (twice!), founded the mills, the city’s first streetcar system, and financed most of the projects & businesses in downtown Sioux Falls during the late 19th century. 

Frank had big ideas for South Dakota, too. He led the charge to admit South Dakota as a state and was elected as the first full-term US Senator to represent the new state in Congress. While in office, Frank advocated for The Forest Reserve Act, chaired the World’s Fair, opposed the annexation of Hawaii, traveled to Japan by special invitation from the emperor and more. Did the man ever sleep?

In spite of all his success, Frank made and lost money, rose and fell from political office, and was praised by many while being criticized loudly by others. 

He was a man ahead of his time, while still being very much of those times. Frank was a little bit complicated (let me know when you meet someone who isn’t!), but Sioux Falls wouldn’t be the city it is today without his visionary thinking and willingness to dream. 

Maybe it’s just his awesome beard, but I like this guy. Oh, and I live in his house now too.

I’d love to send you something that inspires you to write down a few dreams of your own, kind of like my friend Frank. 

So dream on! Go make it happen.

Also, maybe keep this page between you, me & RF.

Image Credit: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, [reproduction number, e.g., LC-B2-1234]