We spent a day just lazing about in Custer – planning the next few days and doing laundry and all that fun! Then we headed out for Mount Rushmore National Memorial. The Crazy Horse Memorial was on the way but we opted to drive past without stopping once it was evident that we could see the sculpture the highway.
All along the way we could see the trees that from a distance give the Black Hills their name. And there were many other rock formations looming above us.
Mount Rushmore is as amazing as all the pictures you’ve ever seen of it. After wandering the museum for a bit (and taking several pictures as a favor for an Internet acquaintance) we decided to walk the Presidential trail to see the sculpture a bit closer. Part of the Presidential trail was closed due to renovations at the Sculptor’s Studio – so rather than a loop we had to return from the base of the sculpture to the Grand View Terrace along the same portion of the trail.
Off to one side of the Grand View Terrace is an older viewing area and the beginning of the Nature Trail that leads to the Borglum View Terrace (and on to the Sculptor’s Studio) and then back to the parking area. Very few people took this route back to the parking area – it was a welcome bit of quiet at a very popular destination! A sculpted bust of Gutzon Borglum (the sculptor of Mount Rushmore) done by his son Lincoln (who also worked on Mount Rushmore and actually took over as sculptor upon his father’s death) is displayed at the Borglum View Terrace.
Our campground for the next few days was near Rapid City and along the way we passed through Keystone. There were amazing chainsaw sculptures and all sorts of tourist traps as well as the Miner’s Gateway Tunnel!
Click here for Mount Rushmore pictures, click here for general South Dakota pictures (Crazy Horse is in that album) and click here for Keystone pictures.
The Travel Adventures of Cheryl and Charlie 