We didn't stop then because we wanted to get checked into our hotel and get ready for the train ride. We were planning to go to Mt Rushmore for the lighting ceremony later that night. Everyone I'd spoken to said the lighting ceremony was amazing, so we were going to be sure to attend.
We got checked into the hotel, then we went to the train station. Let me explain about the train. It's an old steam engine that goes through the Black Hills about 10 miles to the town of Hill City, then back to Keystone. Along the way, you pass through really beautiful countryside. The Black Hills are not what I expected. I guess I thought all of South Dakota would look like the Badlands, but that's not the case. The Black Hills are very green. In fact, the trees are so dark green that the Indians in the area, long long ago, thought the hills looked black, hence the name The Black Hills.
Time for pictures:
Here's a pretty meadow with one of the hills in the background. 
The wildflowers were blooming and it was gorgeous!
Deer, frolicking in the meadow.
The ride to Hill City took about an hour, then we had a little time to get off the train and stretch our legs. It was a beautiful evening, and the ride back was plenty enjoyable.
We got back to Keystone just in time to get back up the hill to Mount Rushmore. We were directed to an amphitheater that was already packed with people by 8:30 for the 9:00 ceremony. We were fortunate to find seats for Mom, Dad and T. (I stood nearby with a good view of the stage.)
The program began with a Scout Troop from Wisconsin leading the audience in The Pledge of Allegiance. Think about how many times you've recited the Pledge. You kind of take it for granted, right? Try reciting it along with 3,000 other people and with four great American presidents watching over you. It gives you goosebumps!
The program continued with a ranger telling the stories of what the men who became presidents number 1, 3, 16 and 26 endured in their lives before becoming president and what may have inspired them to become the men they were. The speech was followed by a movie that talked a little about the sculpture itself and focused mainly on the presidents. After the movie, the lights started to come on, slowly illuminating the mountain.
We sang The Star Spangled Banner. I cried. I'm not what I would call extremely patriotic, I guess, but the experience was just so right. Then, past and current military personnel were invited to the stage. I bet there were over one hundred people on the stage. The whole amphitheater audience was standing and applauding as the people made there way down to the stage. More tears from me. The Scout troop performed the flag ceremony where they lowered and folded the flag. The flag was passed to each and every military person on the stage. Many of them saluted the next person as the flag was passed. Oh my gosh. It was very moving. And the whole time, George, Thomas, Teddy and Abe watched.
The pics I took at night weren't that great, so here's what you get. I don't think there is any picture anywhere that can do justice to Mount Rushmore. It is just breathtaking. The entire time I was there, I couldn't take my eyes off the faces. I really, really loved it.
Switch gears...
The next day we headed over to Deadwood, South Dakota. I don't know that much about the old West. I don't think I realized that Deadwood was a real place. The characters who spent time there, including Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane seemed like just that to me: characters. But they were real people who really spent time and are actually buried in this cool little town in a gulch in South Dakota.
We were able to look around at the visitor center a little, then we drove down the old main street and went to the Mount Moriah Cemetery where Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane are buried. I think that's when it all came together for me. The cemetery is a cool, peaceful place, up on a hill with a gorgeous view into Deadwood Gulch. I enjoyed going there very much.
From Deadwood, we headed on back west, through Wyoming to Fort Laramie. Remember I told you that the "soldier" at Fort Fetterman said a trip to Fort Laramie would be worth it? He was right. It was neat. There are a lot of buildings at Fort Laramie, including the camp bakery that still works. One of the "soldiers" in there gave us a sample of the bread the soldiers would have eaten. It needed butter. :-)
Our favorite thing about Fort Laramie were the bunnies. We saw three bunnies, who T christened as Lucy, Michael and Jim. T loved Jim! Jim is a baby. I have about 25 pictures of Jim, but here's the cutest. Notice his bunny smile!
Another fun thing about Fort Laramie was that I met someone I know there, an old friend from work who has retired. Isn't that fun?!
It's a pretty long haul from Fort Laramie to Rawlins, but we did it. We had to go through a yucky storm with lots of rain and wind. Mom was scared to head into the storm, so instead we took the freeway and the storm was on top of us the whole way. I did not love driving in the rain with all the big semis around me, but we made it. I was going to make a disparaging comment about the town of Rawlins, but that wouldn't be fair. We just stayed in a hotel right off the freeway so I don't have much to say.
The next morning, Thursday, we headed back to SLC. We got home in the early afternoon and we were all tired! I took a nap.
If I was planning the trip now, I would stay an extra day in Keystone and gone back to Mount Rushmore on Wednesday morning, then spent the afternoon in Deadwood. We could have headed back to SLC on Thursday and got home on Friday. I would love to go back to Mount Rushmore and spend a little more time. And Keystone was cool, too. I'm really glad we went on the trip. I had a lot of fun and will always have great memories of those four days with my son and my parents!
We got back to Keystone just in time to get back up the hill to Mount Rushmore. We were directed to an amphitheater that was already packed with people by 8:30 for the 9:00 ceremony. We were fortunate to find seats for Mom, Dad and T. (I stood nearby with a good view of the stage.)
The program began with a Scout Troop from Wisconsin leading the audience in The Pledge of Allegiance. Think about how many times you've recited the Pledge. You kind of take it for granted, right? Try reciting it along with 3,000 other people and with four great American presidents watching over you. It gives you goosebumps!
The program continued with a ranger telling the stories of what the men who became presidents number 1, 3, 16 and 26 endured in their lives before becoming president and what may have inspired them to become the men they were. The speech was followed by a movie that talked a little about the sculpture itself and focused mainly on the presidents. After the movie, the lights started to come on, slowly illuminating the mountain.
We sang The Star Spangled Banner. I cried. I'm not what I would call extremely patriotic, I guess, but the experience was just so right. Then, past and current military personnel were invited to the stage. I bet there were over one hundred people on the stage. The whole amphitheater audience was standing and applauding as the people made there way down to the stage. More tears from me. The Scout troop performed the flag ceremony where they lowered and folded the flag. The flag was passed to each and every military person on the stage. Many of them saluted the next person as the flag was passed. Oh my gosh. It was very moving. And the whole time, George, Thomas, Teddy and Abe watched.
The pics I took at night weren't that great, so here's what you get. I don't think there is any picture anywhere that can do justice to Mount Rushmore. It is just breathtaking. The entire time I was there, I couldn't take my eyes off the faces. I really, really loved it.Switch gears...
The next day we headed over to Deadwood, South Dakota. I don't know that much about the old West. I don't think I realized that Deadwood was a real place. The characters who spent time there, including Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane seemed like just that to me: characters. But they were real people who really spent time and are actually buried in this cool little town in a gulch in South Dakota.
We were able to look around at the visitor center a little, then we drove down the old main street and went to the Mount Moriah Cemetery where Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane are buried. I think that's when it all came together for me. The cemetery is a cool, peaceful place, up on a hill with a gorgeous view into Deadwood Gulch. I enjoyed going there very much.
From Deadwood, we headed on back west, through Wyoming to Fort Laramie. Remember I told you that the "soldier" at Fort Fetterman said a trip to Fort Laramie would be worth it? He was right. It was neat. There are a lot of buildings at Fort Laramie, including the camp bakery that still works. One of the "soldiers" in there gave us a sample of the bread the soldiers would have eaten. It needed butter. :-)
Our favorite thing about Fort Laramie were the bunnies. We saw three bunnies, who T christened as Lucy, Michael and Jim. T loved Jim! Jim is a baby. I have about 25 pictures of Jim, but here's the cutest. Notice his bunny smile!
Another fun thing about Fort Laramie was that I met someone I know there, an old friend from work who has retired. Isn't that fun?!It's a pretty long haul from Fort Laramie to Rawlins, but we did it. We had to go through a yucky storm with lots of rain and wind. Mom was scared to head into the storm, so instead we took the freeway and the storm was on top of us the whole way. I did not love driving in the rain with all the big semis around me, but we made it. I was going to make a disparaging comment about the town of Rawlins, but that wouldn't be fair. We just stayed in a hotel right off the freeway so I don't have much to say.
The next morning, Thursday, we headed back to SLC. We got home in the early afternoon and we were all tired! I took a nap.
If I was planning the trip now, I would stay an extra day in Keystone and gone back to Mount Rushmore on Wednesday morning, then spent the afternoon in Deadwood. We could have headed back to SLC on Thursday and got home on Friday. I would love to go back to Mount Rushmore and spend a little more time. And Keystone was cool, too. I'm really glad we went on the trip. I had a lot of fun and will always have great memories of those four days with my son and my parents!
2 comments:
AWWWWWWESOME!
I must admit I got tears in my eyes just by reading about it, and I'm not even American :-) So I can understand how you must have felt 100 times more.
I have loved reading about your trip and you write in such a way that it feels I'm almost with you. Thank you.
Love you. Big hugs to you all including Hilmas lookalike Osi :-)
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