I’ve been in Rapid City, South Dakota for the past week and the other day, I took a break from the grueling work load (which I’ll save for a rant another day) I’ve had here to go visit Mount Rushmore. I remember that my parents took me to Mount Rushmore once when I was about seven or so, but I didn’t remember much about it other than visiting the gift shop and getting a neat toy. So, I figured while I was nearby, it was time to go check it out once again.
It truly is amazing to see the “Stone Presidents”, as the locals tend to call Mount Rushmore, and to think that this project was completed in the late 1930’s-early 1940’s using nothing but dynamite, chisels and jackhammers and 1930’s technology. The carvings are very awesome. I learned a few new things about Mount Rushmore too… for example, I never knew that Thomas Jefferson’s face was originally supposed to be on the left side of George Washington. When the carvers encountered crappy rock on that part of the mountain, they had to dynamite Jefferson’s face away and restart on the right side of George, where the face is today. Also, in the original design of Mount Rushmore, Borglum wanted to include a carved inscription alongside the presidents. The inscription was to include the nine most significant events in American History and was to be carved on an 80 by 100 foot area in the shape of the Louisiana Purchase. The problem was that the text couldn’t be carved large enough for people to read it. So, Lincoln is now located on the rock the sculptor, Borglum, had intended for the inscription.
One thing I didn’t remember was a trail that leads closer to the mountain. You can get some great close up shots there. I found it quite amusing that these signs (pictured on right) were plastered everywhere around the walkways. The sign says (in case you can’t read it) that if you go past the designated walkways and hike on the mountain, you can get a $500 fine and spend six months in jail. That’s not an either/or situation… you do both. Now, what I’d like to know is how they figure six months in jail is equal to about 500 bucks? Make the fine higher!
Have you ever visited a national monument? Have you ever noticed that every time you go to one, there’s always a crazy group of German students there? Well, pictured on the left is the prerequisite group of crazy German students at Mount Rushmore the day I was there. They were all singing various 80’s hits and they sat here for about 20 minutes while one person took pictures of the group with everyone’s cameras… I swear there was like 50 cameras there.
How do I know that they were German? Sprechen Sie deutsch? I do. Now, whether they were actually from Germany, or local high school students that just happened to be in a German class? I’m not entirely sure… but they didn’t *sound* American… their English was too good to be Americans. They didn’t sound like a bunch of stoners, which a lot of high school kids sound like these days. And besides, who busts out into 80’s pop hits anymore as a group? They seemed to be just getting to the mountain as I was leaving, so I hope they had a good time.
I certainly enjoyed my trip. I have a ton of pictures to process from this, you may see more in the future. Too bad I didn’t get a chance to see more while I was here. I really wanted to see the Crystal Caverns too, but I’ll have to save that for another time.
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