Mt. Rushmore...Impressive!

On Friday, we left the Badlands and headed to Hill City, South Dakota.  There were many campgrounds to choose from in the Black Hills of South Dakota but we decided to stay at Rafter J Bar Ranch in Hill City, South Dakota because it was the most centrally located for all the day trips we would be taking from there.  At $50+ per night, it was more expensive than we typically like to pay, but Jerry and Pam had recommended it to us and it was just as nice as they had told us it would be.

The sites were spaced far apart...

and we were surrounded by the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota.

 

Way back in the days of the gold rush in the 1800's, Rafter J Bar Ranch was a stagecoach stop between Cheyenne and Deadwood.

 

Some of the original structures are still standing.   Part of this barn that was originally used as a saloon.

This log cabin was used as a cafe.

 

Since today was the start of the Memorial Day weekend, we decided to visit Mt. Rushmore today thinking it might not be as crowded as it would the rest of the weekend.

Mt. Rushmore was only about a 20 minute drive from Rafter J.  On the way, we passed by some big rock formations...

...and in a very short time, we arrived at Mt. Rushmore.  We were hoping we could use our America the Beautiful pass, but this park did not honor it.  The entrance/parking fee was $11 and is good for the rest of the year. 

I had been to Mt. Rushmore with my parents on one of our summer vacations out west in the 70s.  I remembered being disappointed that it appeared so small because you could not get very close to it.  

 

Since then, a museum and big parking lot have been built which allow you to get much closer to the carvings.

 

Sculptor Gutzon Borglum and his crew of workers began construction of Mt. Rushmore in 1927. Mr. Borglum died before the carvings were completed but his son, Lincoln Borglum and crew completed the carvings.  Originally, the carvings were to be more than just the heads, but lack of funds stopped the project in October of 1941. 

Have you ever wondered why these four presidents were chosen for the carvings?  I think this quote from Gutzon Borglum best explains why:

"The purpose of the memorial is to communicate the founding, expansion, preservation, and unification of the United States with colossal statues of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt."

Each head is approximately 60 feet high and were carved by very carefully planned and placed dynamite explosions that were based on a replica of the carvings at a 1/12th scale.  This replica was on display in the Sculptor's Studio at Mt. Rushmore:

 

The detail of the carvings is what was so amazing to me.  Washington, the most prominent figure, appears to be looking forward almost like he is looking out over a battlefield during the American Revolution...or maybe the future of his new country?

Jefferson appears to almost be looking up like in deep thought as he contemplates the words of independence upon which our country is based.

 

The carvings are so detailed you can even see Teddy Roosevelt's eyeglasses.

 

I think I was most impressed with Lincoln's carving.  I could see the same concerned face that I had seen in the many pictures we had seen at his home site and museum in Springfield.  Lincoln appears to be struggling and worrying about how to re-unite and bring our country through the worst war in our history.

 

Needless to say, we were quite impressed!