On Day 3 of our RV trip to Des Moines, Iowa, Tom and I took a day trip from our campsite at Rapid City RV Park and Campground to the Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore memorials.
Sights along the way
This was the first time for either of us to visit this area. We were impressed with the beauty of the Black Hills as we made our way between Rapid City and the memorials. In addition to seeing many beautiful mountains and rock formations, we noticed an unusual amount of motorcycles, specifically Harley Davidsons. It turns out the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally was kicking off the next day in the nearby town of Sturgis, South Dakota. Many of the Sturgis riders were also exploring the Black Hills and memorials.
Exploring Mount Rushmore
A visit to the Black Hills of South Dakota wouldn't be complete without touring Mount Rushmore. Completed in 14 years, between 1927 and 1941, it was a sculpture of unprecedented magnitude. The memorial includes faces of four United States Presidents: Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln.
Tom and I had heard that seeing Mount Rushmore at night is most impressive. We tried to wait but just couldn't. Instead, we visited in the late afternoon. It was still impressive and now we have an excuse to return another time... to see it after dark!
Exploring Crazy Horse
I first heard about the Crazy Horse Memorial decades ago when it was struggling to make any significant progress. That's when visiting Crazy Horse became one of my bucket list items. I was in no hurry however, because it had (and still has) a long way to go.
The Crazy Horse Memorial was started in 1948, just 7 years after the completion of Mount Rushmore. Unlike Mount Rushmore, which was federally funded, the founders of the Crazy Horse Memorial turned down federal funding decades ago and have been funding it with charitable gifts and admission proceeds ever since. This year Crazy Horse celebrates 75 years since it broke ground. Currently the face of Crazy Horse and his pointing finger are looking good. I hope to return in another decade, or so, to see significant progress on the sculpture!
Cohort Craft Brewery
After a day of exploring South Dakota's Black Hills and memorials, Tom and I were looking for a place to kick back and relax near our campsite. We found the Cohort Craft Brewery packed on a Thursday night. Was the beer THAT good? Maybe, but we soon learned another reason for the Thursday Night crowd... Music Bingo! Tom and I sat out the first game and watched as everyone in the bar sang along to snippets of popular songs until someone yelled BINGO! We couldn't resist joining the fun for the rest of the night.
Slideshow - Day 3
Here are our few photos from Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Cohort Craft Brewery and some of our sights along the way.
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