“I don’t need no art exhibits, when the sunset does her best, paintin’ everlastin’ glory, on the mountains to the west.” —- C. Badger Clark, cowboy poet and 30 year Custer State Park resident
We are leaving Custer State Park this morning. Leaving behind beautiful scenery like the Needles Highway. Leaving behind Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial. This has been a very special week for me. As long as I can remember, I have longed to see Mount Rushmore. When I was a child, the very idea of carving massive faces into the side of a mountain was beyond belief and I have been waiting decades to see it. The Crazy Horse Memorial was quite moving. It brought tears to my eyes to imagine the loss of life and the loss of the culture of all the tribes of Native Americans. There is really nothing I can add to the conversation, but I cannot help but feel such profound sadness for their loss. Although we will still be in the area they call the Black Hills when we are in Badlands National Park, I want to show some of places we’ve seen here. Call these “scenes from an incredible country.” We are so blessed!
This is how the terrain along Needles Highway looks.
The Needle’s Eye. We drove through several narrow tunnels.
Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park.
The Crazy Horse Memorial. Work began in 1948. They accept no government funding. Still much work to be done.
The model for the completed project.
It was great to finally see Mount Rushmore!
When I went to Mt. Rushmore I didn’t think it was as all as I thought it would be. Perhaps it is where I stood or the angle. I did, however, find the Crazy Horse project amazing.
I think I would would agree with you when we first walked up, but after we did the hike all the way around and saw the monument from all angles, I was more impressed. Like so many things you see pictures of your whole life, the real thing is often somewhat of a letdown, I guess because you have built it up so much in your mind.