Wednesday, July 4 – We headed out early to Mount Rushmore. We know what you might be thinking.....why would they visit Mount Rushmore on the Forth of July? Isn't that like going to the mall on Black Friday? Well, what better day to visit one of the Nation's most patriotic memorials than on it's birthday.
Surprisingly the crowd wasn't too bad. The Mount Rushmore National Memorial knows how to handle crowds, that's for sure! Add to that, the fact we arrived at about 8:30 a.m., the crowds didn't get heavy until we were leaving about 12:30. We did decide to wait until tomorrow to go back to see it at night.
One observation we made is the crowds are spread out among several displays. Once parked in one of the two parking garages (Entrance to the park is free, you only pay to park - $11. The America the Beautiful pass does not cover parking.), you enter the Avenue of the Flags. We found the Ohio Flag (our original home state) and the Texas Flag (our new state) right next to each other.
Ohio flag
Look at the background for the Texas flag.
The Grand View Terrace is very well done providing magnificent views of the Memorial. This is the same area where the night viewing is held. It has stadium style seating.
We then walked the path to the foot of the Memorial and took additional photos to add to our zillion for the day.
This is what the first draft of how the Memorial was to appear.
We can't believe these workers walked up 700 steps BEFORE they began work.
These are the dimensions of each head.
Great explanation on why each President is on the mountain.
George Washington…Birth of the Republic President.
Thomas Jefferson…The Expansion President.
Theodore Roosevelt…The Development President.
Abraham Lincoln…The Preservation President.
Paul having some fun…Tickle, Tickle, Tickle.
Next was the circular Presidential Trail that has stops for more interesting photos, Ranger Interpretive stations, the Lakota and Dakota Indian Heritage Village, a view of the compressor house, the Sculptor's Studio and the stairs to return to the Information Center and Bookstore.
Indian Heritage Village
Being 4th of July, they even had George Washington and others there to greet the tourists. Marsha joined the kids to talk with George.
FAST FACTS:
- Carving dates – 1927 – 1941
- Total cost - $989,992.32 (Nothing like being down to the penny!)
- Namesake – Charles Rushmore (Fellow mountain was named after.)
- Sculptor – Gutzon Borglum
- Main tool – dynamite (used for 90% of the stone removal)
-
The rock – Harney Peak Granite
With the wild fires here in the West, one is frequently overwhelmed with the Pine Beetle infestation and the accompanied destruction. Like Colorado, the Black Hills of South Dakota, and much of the Nation, has experienced tremendous destruction from this tiny beetle. There are so many dead trees as you look over the forest.
All the brown you see in the forefront and background are dead pine trees.
To protect the Memorial's forests from this epidemic, Mount Rushmore embarked on a thinning program to remove the dead tress and the fire threat. The areas thinned look pretty good, and we pray the efforts will be rewarded with the saving of these forests.
Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y'all back real soon. Have a great day!
That area will really start rocking next month. You two stay safe. I just love the Black Hills!
ReplyDeletethere is a few bloggers visiting Mount Rushmore today!..nice post..glad you both had some fun!!
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the pictures of Mt. Rushmore.
ReplyDeleteYou two are too funny...tickling the chinny chin chin of our first president. You got some great photos with that blue, blue sky. We noticed the short-sleeve shirts you were wearing...finally! If you have a change, take the road that goes behind Mt. Rushmore for an interesting perspective. Hope the plan to salvage the remaining pine tree works. It would be a shame to lose those Black Hills.
ReplyDeleteWe have not been to Rushmore yet. We really to need to get up that way before to long. Need to take a summer to spend in the Dakotas and Wyoming. Looks like you're having a great time.
ReplyDeleteyou are in the same area as Dee and Jim of Tumbleweed :) great pics..another place on my tado list...love the way they flew the flags...enjoy the area...
ReplyDeleteMontana trees have been destroyed by the beetles also which just adds to fuel for fire this summer. Lots of bloggers in your area so it's neat to see the different perspectives each of you post.
ReplyDeleteWhere are you! We are at Heartland RV park in Hermosa close to Mt. Rushmore. Funny we were at Three Flags in Black Hawk for a week and just found out Dee and Jim from Tumbleweeds were there too. We will meet up with them on Friday, it's only about 22 miles from where we are now.
ReplyDeleteIf still in area my email phyllen@live.com
Nice informative post. You included some things we didn't see when we were there, and your pictures wqere great. Nice to find your flags together!
ReplyDeleteSounds like Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills could be the location for a blogger rendezvous this summer. :)
ReplyDeleteAt least Paul did not have his finger up George's nose.lol
ReplyDeleteActually going to the mall on Black Friday means you can get super deals. We used to do but then starting to stand in line at 2:00 AM to save $5 just didn't seem important anymore.
ReplyDeleteI don't think there were as many crowds this 4th of July as other ones since it fell in the middle of the week. That's a good thing ... isn't it?
You're sure moving on there.
Nice photos of Mt. Rushmore - it brought back some great memories of our visit in 2007.
ReplyDeleteThe monument sure looks great with a perfect blue sky background. We were lucky with the weather as well.
Enjoy the nighttime display!
Oh I so hope you have a chance to drive or take a tour bus on the Needles Highway. . .fabulous views of the monument through the tunnels. . .loved reliving our visit through your pics. . .enjoy!
ReplyDeleteJanice
ReadyToGoFullTimeRVing.blogspot.com
We enjoyed our visit to Mt Rushmore but you saw more of it than we did so I still learned from your visit. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThe bettles have took their toll on the forests thats bad. Enjoying the pic's scratch my chiney,chin,chin.
ReplyDeleteGood tour, we have been there many times, and hope to visit again:)
ReplyDeleteGreat tour we hope to do this again sometime
ReplyDeleteYou Guy's ROCK!
ReplyDeleteI came across your blog when Jerry and Suzy mentioned in a comment on my blog that you were in Mount Rushmore on the 4th, as were we. And then I saw that you intended to go to the evening program tonight (Thursday). We were there, too, and left halfway through the movie because of the rain. We are bloggers and RVers, also. It's a small world!
ReplyDeleteCarol Krajcar carolksjourney.blogspot.com
What a perfect way to spend the 4th of July. Your photos are great and loved the tickle one. We were there last summer and so enjoyed this wonderful National Park.
ReplyDeleteThe pine beetle has been very distructive to the area. It broke our heart to see all the dead trees in the Black Hills. The National Forest waited too long to address the infestation.
What a perfect way to spend the 4th of July. Your photos are great and loved the tickle one. We were there last summer and so enjoyed this wonderful National Park.
ReplyDeleteThe pine beetle has been very distructive to the area. It broke our heart to see all the dead trees in the Black Hills. The National Forest waited too long to address the infestation.