Hill City, South Dakota

I wanted to come to South Dakota to see Mount Rushmore, but I fell in love with the Black Hills!

South Dakota has surprised me the most out of the states we’ve been to so far.  It’s gorgeous; well, at least the Black Hills are. It’s the only part we’ve been to so far… : -)

Color me naive but I didn’t know the Black Hills were so named by Lakota Native Americans because the denseness of the trees make the hills look black.

First, Rushmore.

How does one describe four granite carvings that are over 60 feet tall commemorating the four most notable presidents from our country’s first 150 years? Pretty hard to do…  I learned a few things today about the memorial.

Originally the carvings were to include the presidents’ torsos. The granite changed below the faces and wouldn’t hold the carvings. Here’s the artist’s original concept. I like the way it turned out better. More focus on their heads, well actually their brains. : -)

A bill was introduced in 1937 to carve a fifth head: Susan B. Anthony. The plan was neglected due to both a lack of suitable rocks and funding. (I wonder how much sooner women’s rights would have advanced had the carving been done.)

Second, the Black Hills.

They cover approximately 50 miles by 100 miles. Harney Peak, at 7244 feet, is the highest peak not only of the Black Hills but of any mountain range east of the Continental Divide to the Swiss Alps.

The beautiful Cathedral Spires are to the left of Harney Peak in the above picture.

Sylvan Lake is close to the spires. It is one of the prettiest lakes I have seen.

There was a wedding there when we drove by. What a wonderful place to start a new beginning!