For Memorial Day and the day after a couple friends and I decided to go see Mount Rushmore. We left Monday night and came back Tuesday night. Now a few people told me I was crazy to plan a trip to Mt Rushmore as a "day trip," but they didn't realize that the national monument is only five hours away! South Dakota is just beautiful too, and just imagine driving around the corner and seeing this carved into the mountain.
Beautiful isn't it? We were more than a little surprised to see it from the road like that, so of course we pulled over and started snapping photos right then and there. Who needs to pay $10 to get into the park when you can just take photos out your window?
Well we went inside the park anyway. :)
Tabi and Tim standing in awe!
She must be so strong to hold it up!
All the flags down the walkway were pretty cool.
Me with the Presidents.
Me and Tabi, trying to stay dry in the rain.
We also went to see the Crazy Horse Memorial which is still under construction. When it was started, they estimated it would take 100 years to construct, but it has already been 50 years and it is not even close. They only take private donations and proceeds from visitors to the park, so that is probably why it is taking so long. It was pretty cool to see it, if only from a distance.
You might not be able to tell, but eventually this will be a Native American, Crazy Horse, riding on a horse and pointing with his finger. Like I said, it's so far from being completed, I doubt it will be done in my lifetime. It is a huge monument too. The presidents at Mt Rushmore could fit just in Crazy Horse's head.
Here is the model of what it is supposed to look like someday, and in the background you can see the current rock. I'm not saying they haven't made considerable progress, but there is a LOT more to be done. It will look awesome.
A picture of the front and face of Crazy Horse.
The monument is to be built to honor Native American heritage, and will be a national park someday with iyas their tribute. It seems to me like an answer to Mt Rushmore, to show the real heritage of the United States, and they won't take any proceeds the government offers to help pay for it. If they would, then the construction would probably go much faster. It's pretty expensive to get into the park too, and much more to take a tram up to see the face up close. We opted out of the tram ride.
All in all it was a great trip, although short lived. I would definitely recommend taking a weekend and visiting these monuments. And remember, if you live in Fort Collins or Greeley or the surrounding area, it is only about a 5 hour car drive and well worth it!
Well we went inside the park anyway. :)
Tabi and Tim standing in awe!
She must be so strong to hold it up!
All the flags down the walkway were pretty cool.
Me with the Presidents.
Me and Tabi, trying to stay dry in the rain.We also went to see the Crazy Horse Memorial which is still under construction. When it was started, they estimated it would take 100 years to construct, but it has already been 50 years and it is not even close. They only take private donations and proceeds from visitors to the park, so that is probably why it is taking so long. It was pretty cool to see it, if only from a distance.
You might not be able to tell, but eventually this will be a Native American, Crazy Horse, riding on a horse and pointing with his finger. Like I said, it's so far from being completed, I doubt it will be done in my lifetime. It is a huge monument too. The presidents at Mt Rushmore could fit just in Crazy Horse's head.
Here is the model of what it is supposed to look like someday, and in the background you can see the current rock. I'm not saying they haven't made considerable progress, but there is a LOT more to be done. It will look awesome.
A picture of the front and face of Crazy Horse.The monument is to be built to honor Native American heritage, and will be a national park someday with iyas their tribute. It seems to me like an answer to Mt Rushmore, to show the real heritage of the United States, and they won't take any proceeds the government offers to help pay for it. If they would, then the construction would probably go much faster. It's pretty expensive to get into the park too, and much more to take a tram up to see the face up close. We opted out of the tram ride.
All in all it was a great trip, although short lived. I would definitely recommend taking a weekend and visiting these monuments. And remember, if you live in Fort Collins or Greeley or the surrounding area, it is only about a 5 hour car drive and well worth it!
