....In the Wide Open Air!

Finally, Mount Rushmore!!  We decided to end our day at the monument since they do a lighting ceremony at 9 PM.  So we headed from our hotel into old Keystone to see the mining town.  I read in my trusty AAA book (gotta love the TripTiks) that there was a self guided walking tour so we stopped at the information booth and picked up a map.  The "tour" consisted of walking past semi-decrepit buildings with little signs in front of them.  Not really interesting to any of us.  The most interesting thing we saw was a garage that resembled an old oil tank.

We headed back to the car to drive through the Iron Mountain Pass and Custer National Park.  As we rounded the first bend out of Keystone we got our first glimpse of the heads:

We proceeded on our way.  The Iron Mountain Pass is not for the faint of heart.  There are numerous sharp turns and narrow passages, but the views are gorgeous.  As you wind your way around Mount Rushmore is a constant presence.  You can see it from many of the clearings.  The road was even designed so that as you go through the tunnels the monument is framed before you. Here's just a few of my multitude of picture from that drive.

The Iron Mountain Road leads to Custer National Park which is basically a very large drive through safari.  I was so excited when we saw the first herd of bison!  They are enormous.  The first bunch we saw were at a distance- but as we drove we suddenly came upon a group that was right next to the road.  The line of cars came to a standstill as everyone snapped picture of these huge animals.  During the drive we also saw prairie dogs (they can transmit the plague), pronghorn deer and wild burros.  

We stopped for drinks in Custer for drinks and then went to the Crazy Horse Memorial.  This is a monument that has been under construction for over 50 years and probably will be for another 50.  The story behind the monument is quite interesting.  Here's the link if you're so inclined:  http://crazyhorsememorial.org/   This is a not to be missed stop on any trip to South Dakota.

The Crazy Horse Memorial

The finished plan superimposed.  When completed the memorial with be the largest sculpture in the world,

It will dwarf Mount Rushmore.  

We stopped on the small town of Hill City and ate at a local joint called Desperado's.  It is housed in a historical building from the late 1800's.  The food was very satisfying.  Now it was time for the main event of the day!!