Mt. Rushmore, South Dakota – 4/6/2015 – http://fulltimetimeshare.com/blog

April 6, 2015 (Monday)

Woke up to chilly temperatures but warming sunshine. Got up and out of our room around 9:30 AM. Just missed the complimentary breakfast at our hotel so we went to a nearby Denny’s Restaurant and had the Fit Fare breakfast we enjoy (egg white vegetable omelette, fruit, and muffin). Of course, coffee was also on our mind and they have a mild coffee that we enjoy.

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We left Denny’s and headed to Mt. Rushmore, about a 20 mile drive. Parking to get into Mt. Rushmore was $11.00. We parked and then walked right down to the end of the walkway lined with flags. What a spectacular thing Mt. Rushmore is. What dedication and imagination Gutzon Borglum had to do this amazing sculpture. We were there several years ago with the kids and it was just as wonderful this time.

Our first view of Mt Rushmore. — Our first view of Mt. Rushmore.

View from the road on the way into the park.

Parking, my golden pass didn't help here. — Parking. My golden pass didn’t help here.

All fifty states are represented with their flag.

By the time we left Mt. Rushmore, it was getting cold and looking like rain. As we were driving out we saw some mountain goats alongside the road. They are very beautiful creatures.

We wanted to see the Crazy Horse Monument, which was another 20 or so miles away. While we were leaving Mt. Rushmore to head to Crazy Horse, we got to pull out alongside the road to see the profile of Mt. Rushmore (just Washington’s profile), but it was really neat seeing it from that perspective.

Side profile.

We got to Crazy Horse Monument and originally just wanted to see it and take pictures, not pay to go inside. While we were driving up to the monument, there was a entrance fee place so we just paid the $11.00 per person and went inside. Glad we did as the place was amazing and we learned so much. We walked around for a few minutes and observed the Native American museum, then went into the theater to see the history of Crazy Horse. Apparently, Korczak Ziolkowski was fired from Mt. Rushmore and then was asked to do this sculpture on sacred ground. They say on the tour that he wanted it to be bigger and better than Mt. Rushmore. He started it years ago and it’s still a work in progress and pretty impressive. His family is still very involved, and now his grandchildren. Not sure when it will be completed.

Piece in front was the first compressor used on the project. He would hand crank it to start it and then climb 976 steps to start working. In one day he had to restart it 9 times. Horrible walk to resart and go back to work. — Piece in front was the first compressor used on the project. He would hand crank it to start it and then climb something like 741 steps to start working. In one day he had to restart it 9 times. Horrible walk to resart and go back to work.

;ojh — Finish grade superimposed on the mountain.

What the mountain is supposed to look like when finished. Maybe my kids will enjoy it.

A fun nature gate. Lots of silhouettes on the gate.

We took the bus tour ($4.00 per person) to get within about one hundred yards of the monument. We also got to see where he, his wife, and other family members are buried, as well as the school house he had made for his ten children to be home schooled. Very interesting family.

They started in 1948. No electricity, no running water, pretty primitive beginnings.

Edie's camera picked up the hand outline on the rock. — Edie’s camera picked up the hand outline on the rock.

Edie cracked everybody up when she asked, "Why is he scowling?" The guide reminded us all his lands were taked and he was murdered under a flag of truce when he was meeting with US officials at a Fort and a soldier stabbed him in the back. — Edie cracked everybody up when she asked, “Why is he scowling?” The guide reminded us all his lands were taken and he was murdered under a flag of truce when he was meeting with US officials at a Fort. A soldier stabbed him in the back.

Old prospector picking the next place he wants to dig for five or six years.

The tour to this part is $125.00 per person.

The whole complex is quite something, and getting bigger and better all the time. They have plans for a college and medical center for Native Americans. At this point in time they have young adults come for summer before going away to college. Very impressive family who have devoted their lives to the mountain, and now new generations of the family are involved.

We left and headed back to Rapid City. Our plan was to go see all the Presidential statues in downtown Rapid City. It was getting so cold and looking like rain that we decided to wait and do it tomorrow morning before we head out.

There are so many sculptors around here.

We ended up back at Perkins Restaurant (again) for dinner before heading back to our room. Michael had a salad and I had a shrimp pasta dish. Pretty good. We both cheated and had a piece of pie (we found out pie was free on Monday when you bought an entree). Couldn’t let the piece of free pie be wasted (we told ourselves).

We are now back in our room. That was our day. Hope yours was great!