Mt. Rushmore

Keystone SD – September 2021

This is the #1 highlight of the trip for me. I have been wanting to see Mt. Rushmore for so long – and now we have seen it! We arrived in the afternoon so I got pictures with afternoon shadows on the statues. We went back early next morning and the early morning sun gave us excellent pictures!

Our first view of Mt. Rushmore – profile of George Washington!

Avenue of flags.

We made it!

So we went back for the night lighting ceremony.

After telling something about each of the four presidents, and spotlighting each president when they told the stories, they then lit all four. It was pretty cool! Then they had a flag folding ceremony with all the veterans in attendance. Pat’s husband Rolland asked me to represent him, so I went down to the stage and I actually got to be one of the seven who folded the flag! It was pretty special.

Early morning visit.

Beautiful blue sky.

My best shot! This is going on the calendar next year!

The Mammoth Site

Hot Springs SD – September 2021

This site is absolutely incredible. Limestone deposits beneath the earth’s surface dissolved in water from underground springs. The land then collapsed and the resulting sinkhole filled with 95-degree water that lured mammoths to drink or feed on the vegetation. The mammoths could not get back up from the slippery steep incline, so they died by starvation or drowning. Along with the mammoths, remains were also found here of giant short-faced bear, white-tailed prairie dog, fish and other fauna. These bones lay undisturbed for over 26,000 years until 1974 when excavation for a housing project revealed the mammoth bones and tusks. All the bones you see in these pictures are real mammoth bones and tusks. It is a large ongoing archeological site. There are specific explanations for each of the bones and tusks in these pictures, but I will not explain them. You can easily see them.

This is really cool. The lines dipping down under the green arrows are actually mammoth footprints!

More mammoth footprints.

Some tools used by the archeologists on site.

Buffalo Statues

Custer SD – September 2021

The town of Custer SD has buffalo statues placed on many of its corners. Cool artwork on all of them.

Wind Cave National Park

Hot Springs SD – September 2021

Wind Cave National Park includes scenic areas like this. The caves are below this ground.

And of course, there are many buffalo within the park!

This is the original natural entrance to the cave.

Wind Cave got its name because of the wind that blows out of the natural entrance. The park ranger demonstrates the wind here. Depending on air pressure inside and outside the cave, the wind also blows into the cave.

The stairs down the cave were narrow and steep.

There are interesting holes and formations throughout the cave.

Wind Cave is most famous for its boxwork formation. The origin of boxwork remains one of the biggest mysteries of Wind Cave. Boxwork is made of thin blades of calcite that project from cave walls and ceilings, forming a honeycomb pattern. The fins intersect one another at various angles, forming “boxes” on all cave surfaces.

This is the largest room in the cave that we visited. It is 200 feet underground. The ranger demonstrated total darkness by turning off all the lights for a couple minutes. It was kind of disorienting. Excellent tour.

Custer State Park

Custer SD – September 2021

Custer State Park is a beautiful drive. Lots of scenic vistas, and most famously – a lot of easy-to-see wildlife!

Sunset on the Black Hills

Buffalo in the distance. They are on the road a lot, but not for us on this trip.

White-tail deer

Wild donkeys

Mule deer

Herd of elk in the distance.

More elk. They were off in the distance a bit, but this was a very popular spot for the tourists. The road was jammed with people getting a glimpse of the elk. It was pretty cool.

Needles Highway

Custer SD – September 2021

Sylvan Lake

Needles Highway is an incredible road – hairpin turns, dramatic granite formations, tremendous overlooks. This highway is not very long, but the tight turns and awesome sights are worth the slow driving! These granite towers are on both sides of the road, sometimes just one side with views of the Black Hills on the other side.

Driving through the “Eye of the Needle”, a tunnel through the granite. Very tight for larger vehicles.

Mary Jean was here as a child. We have a picture of her at this tunnel from 1954.

The Black Hills

Cathedral Spires

This was the inspiration for Mt. Rushmore.