I landed in Hermosa, SD, which is sixteen miles south of Rapid City. Prior to starting my trip, I had two people mention Mt. Rushmore as a must visit place so I figured I could easily spend a month there. One friend visited in the beginning and the other visited in the end and here are the highlights.
Rapid City
Downtown Rapid City was a nice place to visit. Without exception, everyone I met was pleasant and cheerful and the downtown was a nice place to stroll around and visit. The city does have a schtick though. On every street corner there resides a life-sized statue of a president.
If I ever got bored, then a trip downtown would be a surefire cure.
Mt Rushmore
Mt Rushmore is the big deal of the area. Charles E. Rushmore visited the Black Hills in 1884 to confirm land claims. During the visit he saw Six Grandfathers (the Lakota Indian name for the mountain representing north, south, east, west, above and below) and asked his guide, Bill Challis, the mountain’s name; Challis replied that the mountain didn’t have a name, but that it would henceforth be named after Rushmore.
Visiting the monument was free except parking was $10 or $5 for seniors. One visit I did the mile long trail that provided different vantage points to view the monument and this effort added to the experience.
Crazy Horse Monument
The first picture below is the intended final product while the one below that is the current state after 75 years.
. It cost $15 a person for admittance which also includes access to a museum and gift shop.
DEADWOOD
I viewed this little town as a tourist trap filled with places to drink, gamble and shop. In 1874 prospectors came across a gulch full of dead trees and a creek full of gold and Deadwood was born.
Practically overnight, the tiny gold camp boomed into a town that played by its own rules that attracted outlaws, gamblers and gunslingers along with the gold seekers. Wild Bill Hickok was one of those men who came looking for fortune. But just a few short weeks after arriving, he was gunned down while holding a poker hand of aces and eights – forever after known as the Dead Man’s Hand
STURGIS
The 83rd annual Sturgis motorcycle rally took place while I was around the area, so I had to pay a visit. Filled with thousands of folks my age it was a nice experience. Along the way I drove past numerous fields of RVs and thousands of motorcycles, mostly Harley-Davidsons. Now I guess I will have to visit the rally in Daytona just so I can contrast.
THE BADLANDS
There is a 2 lane road through the Badlands that allows for many pull-offs for photo shoots. Like many other parks there are hiking trails available to help see sights from different vantage points. The drive through is about 30 miles and fifteen or so pull outs were available.
CUSTER STATE PARK
I had to make sure my friend got a good look at bison, so I opted for the wildlife loop at Custer State Park. Mission accomplished!
