Traveling past Wall on I-90 bring to you to the end of plains and the
beginning of the Black Hills in Rapid
City. This city is the second largest in the state,
home to 61,000 people.
From Rapid City, you enter the
Black Hills of South Dakota. The Black Hills is home to
several major destinations, including Mount Rushmore,
Crazy Horse, and the infamous town of Deadwood.
Mount Rushmore is the famous mountain carving
features 60 foot busts of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore
Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. The sculpture was initiated by Gutzun Borglum,
and was worked on by Borglum and over 400 others between 1927 and 1941.
In addition to viewing the giant mountain carving, visitors can also view
other exhibits. One of these exhibits is a sculptor’s studio, which features
plaster molds and tools used by Borglum. The exhibits also feature the history
of the more than decade-long process of carving the mountain.
Another major mountain carving that is currently is progress is the Crazy
Horse Memorial. The carving, when it is complete, will depict the famous Indian
Chief in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
The carving was begun in 1948 by sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski. Today, the
progress continues on what will be one of the largest sculptures in the world.
While visiting the site, you can view the history of the carving, exhibits on
Native American history, and plans for the future of the mountain.
Finally, no visit to South Dakota
is complete without a visit to Deadwood. This famous gold mining town was once
home to such people as Wild Bill Hicock and Clamity Jane. Today, you can take a
walk back in time and visit various museums displaying the history of the gold
rush, and various people that made Deadwood famous for eternity.
In addition, the town is also home to legalized casino gambling. You can try
your hand at Blackjack, or hope for luck with the slot machines. To top it off,
the town features old-style hotels and motels that provide modern comforts with
the style of the 1800’s.