Our tour package included breakfast (in the form of a buffet) each morning and several dinners which was nice so that was one less thing we had to think about. We made our way through the buffet line and sat at a table with two retired couples (of course!) on separate tours and ironically both couples had done their life work in the psychology field - didn't stay long at their table in fear they'd start analyzing us!
We departed the hotel at 9:00 a.m. sharp. Our bus driver, Dale, turned out to be a pretty nice guy - loading and unloading all the luggage at each new destination; driving tirelessly for hours on end while maneuvering that big honkin' bus in and out of traffic; through windy, switch-back roads snaking up and down some seriously tall mountains. We have a new respect for most truck/bus drivers!
Our tour director, Mary, was a veteran - she had conducted tours ALL.OVER.THE.COUNTRY! If we drove by it, she knew all about it and proceeded to share the history along the way. What an amazing woman! She rocked! Funny thing, Mary had previously traveled through our little county. In fact, she said that our local Wegman's was her favorite - how ironic! Hopefully she's in the area one of these day so I can buy her lunch!
First stop: Crazy Horse Memorial
A little history as shared by Mary (paraphrased, of course)... In the 1920s when Mount Rushmore was under construction in the Black Hills of SD, the Sioux Indians became quite outraged since the very land used in for the project was land that they had been swindled out of by, none other than our government.
The Sioux wanted their own memorial of significance and since Crazy Horse was their hero, they settled on a Crazy Horse memorial. Ironically, the sculptor entrusted to work on the project had actually worked on Mount Rushmore but was fired.
Blasting of the mountain began in the 1940s by this one and only man. Eventually, over time, others came to help with the project that still remains unfinished to this day. The private leaders of this project have rejected assistance by the government on many occasions. It is completely funded by private donations and funds from the visitors center that was built on site to handle the outpouring of national public interest.
This project remains a family run operation to this day with the descendants of the original sculptor.
When people lose their heros,
they lose their dreams.
When dreams are lost,
life is no longer good.
Second Stop: Mount Rushmore
Of course EVERYONE has seen photos of Mount Rushmore at some point in their life but to see it in person was quite amazing!
Sculpting of the faces of Mount Rushmore began in the 1920's in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
{Reasons these presidents were chosen...paraphrased and plenty of details missing!}
Washington - founding father of our country.
Jefferson - expanded the new world with the Louisana purchase which doubled our land size.
Roosevelt - some said he was a "friend" of the scupltor; instrumental in the purchase and development of the land at the Panama Canal which opened up free trade; big advocate for workers - his policies lead to worker rights.
Lincoln - united the country in a time of divide with the civil war.
This is the view opposite of Mount Rushmore...
We had the opportunity to go back to Mount Rushmore for the night show that they offer. The Park Ranger provided a history of the monument and at the end of the evening, she invited all the veterans (or surviving family member) up on the stage for the retirement of the flag ceremony in recognition of their service given for our freedoms. One of the gentlemen participating in the lowering of the flag happened to be on our tour...THANKS ED!
NEXT POST: 9/1/13 - Deadwood, Tatanka and Sheridan
