We have finally been able to get back out on the road and start exploring again, and for our first trip in the new truck we chose the Black Hills of South Dakota! We have done so much since we got here that it will have to be at least three different posts, but we can’t wait to share all that this area has to offer. We will start with visits to two large sculptures that we are willing to bet you have already heard of! Yep, that’s right…we are talking about Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse. These two places have way more to offer than we were expecting, so let’s dive right in! We will start with Mt. Rushmore, for no other reason than it was the first of the two that we visited.
When we started out for Mt. Rushmore, we expected to spend a couple, maybe three, hours at the memorial. Guys, we were there SIX AND A HALF hours. There was just so much to see and do and we wanted to do it all! Of course, in the spirit of full disclosure, we do tend to spend way more time at places than the average person. The filming and photography we do significantly adds to our time, and we also like to read the signs, understand the whys, and notice the details. In other words, we like to fully immerse ourselves in a place!
The first thing you will see when you walk through the entrance of the memorial is the mountain itself with the Avenue of Flags (each state, district, territory, and commonwealth of the U.S. is represented) in the foreground. It makes for a spectacular first impression. The entire grounds are extremely well-done, though, with the memorial always front and center. It feels like no matter where you go, views of the sculpture are the focal point.
One thing to know about Mt. Rushmore is that there are regular ranger programs and walks throughout the day. There was one starting when we arrived on the life and contributions of Theodore Roosevelt that we participated in immediately. Some of the other topics sounded really fun, too, but we decided to limit ourselves to one ranger program so we could get on to seeing the rest of the memorial.
We both agree that our favorite part of the day was walking the Presidential Trail. This is a trail that takes you along the base of the memorial with lots of signs explaining who the four presidents depicted on the wall are and significant facts about each of them. We loved seeing the sculpture from many different angles and perspectives, and the trail took us close enough to really see some of the detail!
During our visit we also enjoyed the Sculptor’s Studio, the Visitor Center, and watched the park film where we learned so much about the talented and amazing Gutzon Borglum – the artist behind the carving. It was fascinating to learn about how it came to be and the methods of work that were used to create it. There is way too much information to include in this blog post about all that, but if you are interested in such things, we highly recommend you do some of your own research, or better yet – visit Mt. Rushmore for yourself!
While the focus at Mt. Rushmore is the sculpture itself along with the story of the carving, Crazy Horse is a bit different. While there is still a fair amount of talk about the process of the carving and its original sculptor, Korczak Ziolkowski, the emphasis of this place lies firmly in honoring the indigenous people of North America.
In 1939 Chief Henry Standing Bear invited renowned sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski to the Black Hills to carve Crazy Horse. After much consideration, Ziolkowski accepted and made the move to South Dakota where he married his wife Ruth and raised his family of 10 children while working on the sculpture until his death in 1982. Their home and his sculptor’s workshop are still on-site, and parts are open for the public to see. Many, many of his other sculptures are on display as well, and while we don’t claim to be art connoisseurs, it is obvious that he was a very talented man. After his death, his wife and children carried on the work, with his family still having a significant role in continuing the carving today. While there is still much work to be accomplished, when finished it will be the world’s largest mountain carving.
Now, on to the real focus of this place, the native people of North America.
We should probably first talk about why Crazy Horse was selected for the memorial. Chief Henry Standing Bear wanted to show the world that Native Americans have great heroes, too, and chose Crazy Horse because of his refusal to concede to the American government’s efforts to confine his people. Crazy Horse never allowed a photo or likeness to be made of himself, however, so the carving is meant not to be an actual depiction of him, but rather a memorial to his spirit and devotion to his people.
On-site are The Indian Museum of North America and the Native American Educational and Cultural Center. These two places are too much, in the best possible way. There are so many exhibits, photos, and pieces of art on display that it is difficult to take it all in, and these pieces are not only from South Dakota, or even the United States. Efforts have been made to ensure that all indigenous people of North America are represented. It was fascinating to see the differences in the art and artifacts from all the various tribes and cultures. It was also interesting to see the various tribal flags on display in the Educational and Cultural Center, along with the artists in residence who were actively creating their art right in front of our eyes. We really can’t explain this place in any better terms than to say that it is truly amazing and you have to see it for yourself!
Speaking of seeing things for yourself…we were able to watch a Native American dance performance by a family of a man, woman, their two young daughters (ages 9 and 11), their young son (age 5), and their granddaughter (age 13). Watching them perform for us at such young ages was quite impressive. We especially enjoyed watching the hoop dance. The way they were able to manipulate the hoops was amazing and it is clear to see just how very talented they are.
If you have any interest at all in Native American culture, Crazy Horse Memorial is a must-see. The sculpture on the mountain is truly only a very small portion of what this place has to offer.
We are only in the middle of our two week trip to South Dakota, and already we have seen and done so much! Be expecting another post from the region soon, and spoiler alert…it will also have something to do with the stone of the area, but in a totally different way!
Until next time!
