We left the hotel this morning at 6:50 with a temperature of 53*. After leaving the city limits of Wall, we saw lots of HUGE rolling hills for awhile. The east-bound side of the interstate was a long way from us. There were huge
ravines between the two highways.
Rapid City had lots of construction but looked like a cute little town. We drove the Peter Norbeck National Scenic Byway. This masterpiece of artistic engineering features spiraling "pigtail" bridges, tunnels that frame the faces on Mount Rushmore, hairpin curves and finger-like granite spires that rise from the forest floor.
Part of this byway was called the Needles Highway. This 14-mile route threads among the oddly shaped, weathered granite spires from which the highway derives its name. It's a drive through pine and spruce forests, meadows surrounded by birch and aspen and rugged granite mountains. The roadway was carefully planned by former South Dakota Governor Peter Norbeck, who marked the entire course on foot and by horseback. Construction was completed in 1922. One of the more prominent formations along the way is the Needle's Eye, which stands in excess of 30' and has a slit down its center about 3' wide, so named for the opening created by wind, rain, freezing & thawing. Drivers will encounter several hairpin curves and narrow tunnels along the route.
We also drove the Iron Mountain Road, a winding road between Mount Rushmore National Memorial and the junction of US 16A and SD 36. Along the highway, visitors will find wildfire exhibits, pigtail bridges, magnificent Black Hills scenery and tunnels that frame Mount Rushmore.
Some of the construction in Rapid City
Getting closer to Mt Rushmore
Beginning of Iron Mountain Road
Linda & Conrad at the park entrance
Iron Mountain Road
Iron Mountain Road Tunnel
Iron Mountain Road Pigtail Bridge
Iron Mountain Road Tunnel
The view coming through the tunnel
Double tunnel on Iron Mountain Road
View along Iron Mountain Road
Needles Highway
Needles Highway
Needles Highway
Cathedral Spires on Needles Highway
Needles Highway
Marmot
Needles Eye - Needles Highway
Needles Highway
Mount Rushmore Grand View Terrace
This is a better view from the old viewing area
Mount Rushmore Grand View Terrace
After parking, we walked to the Grand View Terrace where the 60' high heads of Washington, Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Lincoln emerge from a wall of granite. Begun in 1927, the carving took 14 years. Gutson Borglum, the artist, explained his choices this way: Washington was selected because he was the father of our country, and Jefferson because he expressed our beliefs in the Declaration of Independence and expanded our territory with the Louisiana Purchase. Lincoln was chosen for preserving the Union, and Teddy Roosevelt because he fulfilled the expansionists dream by linking the oceans with the Panama Canal.
Mount Rushmore wasn't exactly the WOW factor we had thought but it's one more thing to check off on the bucket list. The view from the Grand View Terrace isn't as good as the old viewing site down below. Conrad walked down to the workshop. The steps looked a little too intimidating to my knees. It sort of rained off and on while we were here and the temperature stayed around 55*.
On our way to Deadwood, we stopped at the Prairie Berry Winery in Hill City to taste some local wine. I bought 3 bottles and my favorite was the Wild Ass Rhubarb! In Deadwood, we checked in to the First Gold Hotel and Casino (cost $77.21), We drove around town and then drove to Lead. We liked it better than Deadwood. We saw the open cut of the Homestead Gold Mine and toured the Sanford Lab Museum. It was so interesting. We drove through historic Deadwood and to the Mount Moriah Cemetery. Back in town, we stopped for a beer at No 10 Saloon, where Wild Bill HIckock was fatally shot by Jack McCall. For dinner, we ate at Tin Lizzy's Casino.
Downtown Deadwood
Homestake Gold Mine in Lead, SD
A house in Lead, SD
The 1,000' deep open cut of Homestead Mine
Conrad driving the Homestake Air Locomotive Number 1A
The Homestake Air Locomotive Number 1A was purchased on January 31, 1928 for $7,525. It was in continuous service on the Homestake Tramway hauling ore from the shafts to the mills until taken out of service in 1961. This locomotive is powered by compressed Air.
Exhibit in the museum - no, we could not find the gold!
In the museum
A drawing of part of the mine
The town of Deadwood from Mt Moriah Cemetery
Mt Moriah Cemetery
Mount Moriah Cemetery contains the graves of Calamity, Jane, Potato Creek Johnny, Preacher Smith, Seth Bullock and Wild Bill Hickock. It was established in 1877
Old town Deadwood
We only drove about 200 miles today but walked 9,400 steps and climbed 31 flights of steps. Time to head back to the hotel for some rest.
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