Thursday, May 28, 2009

Mt. Rushmore and the amazing state of South Dakota

So here is the really long post about our trip over Memorial Day weekend to Mt. Rushmore. There are a lot of pictures, so I'm warning you, but how could there not be with a place like Mt. Rushmore. Dave and I planned this trip with his sister Michelle and her husband Scotty at the beginning of the year and we were all so excited to go!! Dave's aunt and uncle live in a place called Torrington Wyoming which is about 3 hours from Mt. Rushmore so we wanted to go before they are moved again by his uncle's work. The drive was not that bad because we had the amazing travel DVD player and we were able to go with two amazingly fun people, Michelle and Scotty. We had so much fun talking and laughing. So I will explain the pictures as they go down. Enjoy!
This is the Mammoth site on the way to Mt. Rushmore. These are actual Mammoth bones they are still digging up


This is a replica of a mammoth bone.

Wildlife we saw on the trip, bison


This is in the Wind Cave, we took so many pictures here but here are a few.




Yea, for Mt. Rushmore!! Dave took amazing pictures with our new camera so here is a close up.

The monument is way bigger than any of us thought and is amazing in person, nothing like pictures.

This is the best shot that Dave got, in my opinion. The history of this monument is fascinating and if you ever get the chance to go, take it.


Dave and I with Mt. Rushmore in the background

Dave felt like we were getting engagement pictures with this pose but look at that shot with the heads in the background, amazing

The night we were there for the lighting ceremony it started to mist and get foggy, here is a cool shot with the fog.

They invited all the veterans on the stage and then retired the flag and sang the national anthem. I of course cried and thought of my mom and sister who are so patriotic and would have loved it!!


This is the original scale model used to carve the faces

The next day with the fog, good thing we got pictures before, the fog was pretty cool though.

Here is the gang, the fog in the background of course covering the heads.

If any of you get the chance to go or want to put this place on your bucket list I would recommend it. There is nothing else like it in the world. And there is more to do there than you think. South Dakota is not that bad, just remember to get a portable DVD player before you leave!!

5 comments:

Ford Fam said...

It looks so cool, you make it sound cooler than I thought it was. I think it is awesome that you guys can say you visited there too!

T Fowler said...

That is amazing! I'm really quite jealous. That is a definite on my future trips. All the side trips look like great fun. Dave looks a little dreamy holding that mammoth bone; is he dreaming of Mammoth KFC? I'm so glad you got a day there without fog; how disappointing would that be to get there and not be able to see it?! Glad you had so much fun.

Grandmakicki said...

All of your post are great. I am glad that you had a fun time and that the two siblings get a long now. Who would of thought that you all could go on a trip together. Love the family time together. Great pictures and Dave's new name is great.

Gayle J. Randall said...

Your post made us definitely want to go. We'll do that when we are home! We'll even buy the DVD player! :) Go glad you had such a fun family time!

Ben and Ash said...

Ben gets quite emotional when speaking of Mt. Rushmore. He loves that place!!! Looks like you had a great time.