Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Mount Rushmore carving began August 10, 1927

with sculptor Gutzon Borglum. It took 14 years to

complete the project on October 31, 1941. Borglum

died in March 1941 and his son Lincoln Borglum

completed the work. Lincoln became the memorial's

first superintendent.

These first few pictures were taken in early

evening and then darkness when the lights

come on.

Mt Rushmore honors veterans each evening at

8 PM on the outdoor stage. The park ranger

was an excellent moderator and is commended.

Steve and Betty

Mount Rushmore outdoor ampitheater

 

The Park Ranger was excellent and very knowledgeable

It took 14 years to complete and with no fatalities during

the process.

Each face is 60 feet high.
Each eye is 11 feet wide

 

This view of Mt Rushmore (Washington) from the Needles area.

 

Gutzon Borglum, Mt Rushmore Sculptor

Click the site below for information that will add

to you understanding of Mount Rushmore

http://www.jeanpatrick.com/mount_rushmore_FAQS.htm

Trivia: Recently many, for different reasons have suggested

our current president be added to the Mt Rushmore sculpture.

The National  Park Service spokesman at the memorial said that

what remains of any rock formation is not strong enough for any

additional work. Further, it has been suggested prior to current president, to add different people.

 The portion to the right of Lincoln

will not endure.



Mount Rushmore?

Mount Rushmore?
 

 

 

The Stone Mountain sculpture above may have been
Sculptor Gutzon Borglum's warmup for Mt Rushmore.

Borglum worked on Stone Mountain sculpture June 23,1923
and walked off the unfinished job in March 1925.

Borglum visited the Black Hills of South Dakota
in August 1925 and concluded that there was no other
rock formation grouping that equalled those found
in the Black Hills nor any so suitable to sculpture.


Mount Rushmore is next for us to enjoy.




 

Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer South Dakota

The Crazy Horse Memorial
Custer South Dakota
September 5, 2012

Crazy Horse Memorial viewed from highway 

 

Model of Crazy Horse Memorial when completed

 

 The Crazy Horse Memorial Statistics

Interesting is the completed size of the sculpture compared

to Mount Rushmore

   

 

 

 

This is the frontal view of Thunderhead Mountain

where the Crazy Horse Memorial is. It is considered

sacred by some Ogala Lakota people. The memorial

is about 17 miles from Mt Rushmore. 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

The Crazy Horse Memorial began in 1948

by Korczak Ziolkowski. He was born in Boston

in 1908 and died October 1982. Prior to beginning

the Crazy Horse monument he worked briefly

at Mt Rushmore in 1924 for the sculptor

Gutzon Borglum.

 

Today the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation is a

private non-profit organization and is actively

managed by his wife Ruth and 7 of 10 children.

 

It is speculated that it will be completed by 2020.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wild Bill Hickok and Deadwood

James Butler ( Wild Bill) Hickok was born in
Troy Grove Illinois in 1837. He was killed
in Deadwood Dakota Territories in 1876.
Wild Bill, playing polker with his back to the door, most unusual,
when Jack McCall entered
 the saloon and shot Hickok in
the back of the head dead.

Mount Moriah Cemetary

Where Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane are buried 

From 1878 to 1880 - 2 years, Deadwood SD was struck

by epidemics of scarlet fever and diphtheria. Records show

more than 350 infants and children are buried at Mount Moriah,

with many or most victims of the dreaded illnesses.

Calamity Jane Burial Site in Deadwood SD

A view of Deadwood SD from atop

of the Mt Moriah cemetary 

Deadwood South Dakota

The Franklin Hotel in Deadwood SD built

in 1902

Trivia: Calamity Jane died in 1903 and is buried next to

Wild Bill Hickok. It was her wish. It has never been documented

that Calamity Jane and Wild Bill were lovers or close friends, even

though it was a figment of Calamity Jane's imgination.

Hill City South Dakota

Hill City South Dakota is in the heart of the Black Hills.
We will remain in the area for six days with many areas
and historic places to see.

The Alpine Inn in Hill City SD. We enjoyed a

Filet Mignon dinner here and it was very good

and the price was reasonable.

 

Ladies in a Hill City free wine tasting contest. Score keeper

is in the background. Can you determine who is having

the most fun?

  

 

Happy Dinner Party of Four at the Alpine Inn with

filet mignon on the mind.

 

Hill City Main Street

Another view of Hill City

Rafter J Bar Ranch RV Resort - Hill City SD

(Recommend)

 

We remain in the Hill City SD area with

our next stop to Mount Rushmore close to our

RV park.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buffalo Wyoming

We leave Cody Wyoming on Sunday, September 2, 2012 travel

 east to Buffalo Wyoming.

Leaving Cody WY and following our

navigators on 9/2/2012 

Highway 14-16-20 to Buffalo WY

Jim Gatchell Museum

Opened initially in 1900 as a drugstore, Mr. Gatchell

received gifts from indian tribes and other memorabilia

over the next 50 years. When he died in 1954 his family

donated his collection to which is now a dedicated museum in Buffalo.

Nate Champion, a key figure in the Johnson County War

which occurred in April 1892

It was a war between large cattle ranch owners and smaller ranchers.Champion

was a small rancher who was one of the first ranchers attacked. During

the standoff Champion was killed but during the gunfight, he wrote in a journal

the last few minutes of his life.

Nate Champion wrote in his journal

the night he died..

 

Boys, I feel pretty lonesome just now. I wish there was someone here with me so we could watch all sides at once." he wrote. The last journal entry read: "Well, they have just got through shelling the house like hell. I heard them splitting wood. I guess they are going to fire the house tonight. I think I will make a break when night comes, if alive. Shooting again. It's not night yet. The house is all fired. Goodbye, boys, if I never see you again."

 

Nate Champion is on the far left white horse.

 

Nate Champion was gunned down by four men firing simultaneously, hit by 28 bullets. The invaders later pinned a note on Champion's bullet-riddled chest that read "Cattle Thieves Beware". They also carefully removed entries from the diary which named some of the attackers.

One of the men who participated in the siege was famous He was gunned down by four men firing simultaneously, hit by 28 bullets. The invaders later pinned a note on Champion's bullet-riddled chest that read "Cattle Thieves Beware". They also carefully removed entries from the diary which named some of the attackers.

Occidental Hotel Barber Shop at

Buffalo WY

 

 

Betty and Judy in Buffalo visitiing

Margo's Pottery in the background

 

 

 

In the area near Buffalo Wyoming was

Fort McKinney. It was created 1877-1894

initially as a reaction to the defeat of

Custer at the Battle of the Little Big Horn.

The fort was occupied by Buffalo Soldiers, a Black

army unit of the 9th Cavalry. They were ordered

to quell the Johnson County War and the fort ultimately

closed in 1894 as the Indian Wars came to a close.

 

We leave Buffalo Wyoming and travel

to our next stop at Hill City South Dakota.

Our stay will be at the Rafter J Bar Ranch Resort.

It is close to many areas such as Mt Rushmore, Jewel Cave,

Crazy Horse Memorial and many more we will highlight in our

visit to the area.