First tourist stop of the day: Cosmos Mystery Spot, sort of like Mystery Hill up in Blowing Rock. Something strange about the gravity or mineral concentrations, with a healthy dose of carnival set-up thrown in to make it all too real (I was rather disoriented the rest of the day).
In Keystone, SD, there's a gallery and film about Robert Borglum, the sculptor and visionary behind the carving of Mount Rushmore. He also created this bronze sculpture of a seated Abe Lincoln, a copy of which now sits in front of this attraction:
Mount Rushmore is pretty darned amazing, and it is so cool to have finally made it there to take it all in. Or to take it in as best as one can, realizing it's really very awesome. Also, discovered that having a National Parks annual pass is only good for entrance fees (and sometimes for discounts on other fees), and that doesn't cover the charge to park at Mount Rushmore.
Also awesome, but a long, long way from completion, is the Crazy Horse Memorial. The plans for this are so grand, and it's already been about 50 years, that I'm not sure it will even be ready for my great-great grandchildren. But what a vision!
From there, it was on to Jewel Cave National Monument, where again my annual pass didn't even get me a discount on the ranger-guided tour. I'm glad to have visited this place, but I'd take Luray Caverns or Mammouth Cave over this. Still, the chances are good that by the time they finish exploring it, Jewel Cave may be considered the largest in the world.
1 comment:
I saw this in 1970 on a family vacation; I was 13. I see some small progress, but concur with your estimate, great-great grandchildren. If we posit 25 years for a generation that makes it about 100 years.
Jim Phillis
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