Rapid City and Surrounds

Our first view of Crazy Horse was from the highway. His head towered over the trees as we rounded the corner on our way from Custer. I wasn't expecting to see something so large.

The monument offers a bus ride to the base of the mountain that is the carving, but we were not able to take the tour due to time constraints. We started our walking tour with the video that explains the logistics and history of the monumental carving. This is not a government subsidized project. It relys on donations and the admission fees of the visitors.

There are several museums on the property that offer information on the tribes in the area and their reasons for wanting the monument to Crazy Horse. The family that is doing the actual carving lives on the property also, so some of the buildings are off limits since they are private property.

If you are also planning to visit Mount Rushmore during your visit, go to see it first, then come here. Seeing the finished monument to the presidents will give you a better idea of the scope of this carving (especially since this one is so much larger than Mt. Rushmore).

The biggest tourist attraction in the area is Mount Rushmore. It draws more people than almost any attraction in the USA.

The faces carved in granite are impressive. The expressions can be read according to how the viewer feels. If you are upset at the way the nation is behaving, the faces seem to mirror dismay. If you are happy with the way the nation is going, the faces seem to be content. Let your emotions color your experience and it will remain with you forever.

Stand at the railing and take your photos. Marvel at the sheer power that it took to carve these men into the rock. Enjoy the beauty of the mountains. And don't forget to stop by the gift shop and grill. September in the mountains can be chilly in the mornings so the coffee and tea are welcome additions.

If you plan to see the Crazy Horse monument also, see this one first. That way you will be able to visualize the Crazy Horse one better since it is still under construction.

When we headed for Deadwood, we were expecting a mining town of clapboard buildings used as stores and shops and an occasional saloon. Boy, were we wrong!

Deadwood has been burned to the ground two times in it's history and the locals have learned that wooden buildings don't stand a chance against fire. Most of the buildings are now made of brick and many don't predate the mid 1900's by much. Almost every building houses a gambling casino. There might be a restaurant or bar inside also, but the primary use of the facilities is for gambling at various slot machines. Children are not allowed in the casino area, so there is usually a separate entrance to the restaurants. We ate at Mustang Sally's, a former gas station, where the restaurant was at the back of the building and has an entrance to the left of the main building that leads to the food area.

We took the Boot Hill tour. This was a short bus trip to the cemetary on Mt. Moriah where the graves of Wild Bill Hickock and Calamity Jane are located. Contrary to the history portrayed in the dime novels, these two probably didn't even know each other. But Calamity Jane had such a crush on Hickock that she requested to be buried next to him and that request was fullfilled.

If you are expecting a wild west atmosphere, don't come to Deadwood. If you are content to shop, gamble and generally spend a day walking around some picturesque cobblestone streets, then Deadwood would be just right as a day trip.

Since we had a rainy day for our drive west from Sioux Falls, we decided to check out the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD.

This building has been decorated with corn cobs and sheaves since the beginning of the 1900's. Each year the decorations are renewed and murals changed. The murals are designed and then drawn onto roofing felt. The felt is tacked onto the building and numbered for the placement of the different types of corn (sort of like a paint-by-number). These decorations are both inside and outside the building and can be quite ornate.

It is such a draw in the area that tour buses are parked outside all day long. Each tour lasts long enough for the viewing of the murals and a chance to grab a bite in the grill area (souveniers available for sale also). The hot chocolate and mocha are very good when the temps dip outside.

We used the GPS to guide us to the Corn Palace, but there are signs from the road that do a great job leading you to the attraction.

Bear Country is an enclosed drive through zoo. The critters are kept in separate areas that are divided by fencing and gates. Each area is large enough for the animals to range and react as if they were in their natural surroundings.

We were able to see the Elk and Bison fighting for mates (it was rutting season). Wolves and sheep wandered around in their enclosures as if they were in the wild. The bears are the big draw. They hide in caves built from rocks, sit in the middle of the road (just chillin'), and climb among the rocks and logs placed in their enclosure. After the drive through area, there is a nice "baby bear" area that also includes some assorted critters in fenced in enclosures. We enjoyed seeing the animals (except the porcupines who refused to look our way) and the baby bears who climbed all over each other and the logs and rocks.

This is an exhibit that can be enjoyed by adults and kids of all ages. Be sure to keep your windows wound up during your drive since these are wild animals after all.