Mt. Rushmore and the Badlands of South Dakota

Mt. Rushmore

Mt. Rushmore, as my daughter will tell you, is best viewed in the morning as the rising sun shines forth upon those grand faces of four of our most beloved and respected presidents.  The story of how it took more than 17 years to finish Mt. Rushmore is amazing! 

"The purpose of the memorial is to communicate the founding, expansion, preservation, and unification of the United States with colossal statues of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt." Gutzon Borglum, sculptor.

Walking through the Avenue of the Flags as you approach Mt. Rushmore is stunning!  How fitting that those are the four presidents chosen to be there for all posterity.

We were able to go down to Gutzon Borglum's original studio and saw what the sculpture was originally supposed to look like:
The ranger there told us that contrary to popular belief, there will NEVER be another person portrayed alongside these four great men........Mt. Rushmore will stay exactly as it is!
We took the trail of 250 steps up to get a closer view, and were lucky enough to watch as the rangers worked getting down some trees from way up above!

One even consented to having his picture taken with Mike.....no, not Ranger Rick, but a wonderful man by the name of Ed Menard.
It was interesting to see the different views as we walked along:

We even happened upon a cave as we strolled along and looked up to catch this sneak peak of George Washington with a bit of Abraham Lincoln, too:

I had been to Mt. Rushmore last year for the first time, and as we were leaving I felt once again so very grateful that these were the presidents that were in place for such monumental moments in our country's history.  I can think of no better men to have shaped us in those earlier years during the many trials they encountered.

The Badlands 

The Badlands of South Dakota are similar yet different than the ones we drove through in North Dakota.  The colors and layering of the stone are so beautiful.....and as the sand washes away, more and more pinnacles are being uncovered.  What starkly beautiful terrain the badlands are!

We drove through in late afternoon and the lighting was spectacular!  We have been blessed with perfect weather in all of the parks we have been to.

I was again educated when I read about Wounded Knee.  I'm sure I learned this in US History in school, but didn't remember the story.  As I read it again, I realized it was so awful I probably put it out of my mind.  How devastating for the Native Americans that winter they were losing their chief, Sitting Bull.  They had made winter camp near the Badlands on December 24th, 1890.  Sitting Bull was very ill, near death, when five days later, on December 29th, 1890, the entire tribe was massacred......nearly 300 men, women and children.  The US 7th Calvary had escorted them to Wounded Knee and due to a tragic accident, chaotic firing all around led to the killing of not only the tribe members, but 25 soldiers.  When, oh when, will mankind ever learn?  Has there ever been a time on this earth when there wasn't war of some kind happening somewhere?

When you stand in a place where much killing has gone on, there is a feeling; a sense that is hard to describe......it really is as if you can feel the souls of those who died there.  I've felt the same feeling in Gettysburg and in the Shenandoah Valley where Stonewall Jackson died.  A sadness comes over you and it is almost as if you can feel what went on there.  You come away from it changed somehow and more appreciative of the sacrifice of those who came before.  Never forget and always honor those who gave their lives.  Our country wouldn't be what it is today without the history of what happened so very many years ago.

On a final, lighter note:  you've heard of Where's Waldo?  Well, where's Karen?

We're now heading east for the long ride home.  We'll see Kansas City, MO and St. Louis before spending some time with our son and his family and my brother and his family, too.  As much as I've loved all the places we've been to thus far, I must admit, I'm starting to miss home........soon enough, we'll be back!

~Karen

From Mike,

   Be sure to click on the older posts below to see the blog on Little Bighorn and Devils Tower if it isn't below.  These two posts go together.  We have learned of the sacrifices of many who lived in South Dakota.  Our earlier entries talked of Laura Ingalls Wilder and the plight of the earlier pioneer settlers. Together with the Native American stories, I many times found myself awestruck and very moved thinking of the often tragic history of this rugged but beautiful land and its people.   I was drawn to South Dakota in a way I can not put into words.   I would certainly like to visit again.

--Mike