Mt. Rushmore

Mt. Rushmore... This amazing landmark located in the Black Hills of South Dakota was carved by Gutzon Borglum and 400 men in just 14 years.  Only six years were spent carving, the other eight were spent raising funds for this enormous project, which cost less than a million dollars. Gutzon died in 1941 before the completion of the monument, leaving his son, Lincoln, to finish the work.  The four presidents Gutzon chose each represent something that happened to shape our country.  President George Washington represents the founding of our country as our first president.  Thomas Jefferson doubled our land in size when he bought the Louisiana Purchase.  Theodore Roosevelt promoted construction on the Panama Canal and encouraged causes like conservation and economic reform.  Abraham Lincoln, our 16th president, kept our country together during the Civil War and ended slavery on American soil.  These four men are remembered today through Gutzon and Lincoln Borglums carvings in the Black Hills.

 To give you an idea of the size of these carvings, George Washington's nose is over 20 feet long!

 We went for a little walk and saw these mountain goats!

 We also went in the evening for the lighting ceremony.


Canada here we come!

Bear Country U.S.A. & Alpine Slide

While we were in the Mt. Rushmore area we camped at the Rushmore Shadows Resort.
Sunday morning we went to Bro. Peter Derksen's church in Rapid City.
Monday morning Daddy and Mommy took us to Bear Country U.S.A. where they have the largest personal collection of black bears! (over 200!)

Bear Country U.S.A. is also a drive-thru animal park

The goats are shedding but these twins were so cute!

 

Check out the bear waving at us!  :)

After driving through the park we went to Babyland and saw the baby bears, we counted 27! 

They were so cute!

These cubs were born in late January/early February.  After being with their mothers for three months they were weaned and brought to Babyland.  Once a mother bear starts to move her young they are in danger from the adult males.  Only 40% of bear cubs survive in the wild because of this.

Whatcha lookin' at?

"Uh, I'm trying to get up here but it's hard!"

Bear cubs are the size of a stick of butter at birth!  Now, five months later, they are running around wrestling and playing with their buddies.

We were amazed that the adult bears were not fighting with each other as we drove through the park.  After seeing how they are around each other all the time as cubs, it probably helps them to get along with each other as they get older.

Is that our breakfast coming?!

 "Hey, look at me!  I can do this!"

"Ahh, this is tiring..."


There were so many cute baby animals in Babyland!

 After visiting Bear Country, Daddy took us all on an Alpine Slide!!!

Daddy and Elainah

 

 

 

 

 

On to Mt. Rushmore!!  :)

 

 

Stops Along The Way To Mt. Rushmore

We stopped at a few places along the way to Mt. Rushmore.  Mommy had read about the world's only Corn Palace located in Mitchell, South Dakota so we stopped for a few minutes.

The first Corn Palace was built in 1892 because early settlers wanted to display their agricultural bounty to attract immigrant farmers to settle in the area.  This year the Corn Palace was decorated to the theme of "Saluting Youth Activities".  Over 3,000 bushels of rye, oat heads, and sour docks are tied in bundles and stapled to the exterior of the building.  275,000 ears of corn are sawed in half lengthwise and nailed to the building following patterns created by local artists.  13 different colors of corn are used to decorate the corn palace.  It's also known as the world's largest "birdfeeder"! :)

                              It was pretty amazing!                                                 Inside the Palace...

Another place we stopped at is the World's Largest Drug Store.

After seeing/reading 5,000 billboard signs along the highway about WALL DRUG and the many things it has to offer, we decided to stop.  Hey, we're here, why not? :)  After I started reading every single one I saw Daddy asked me, "Kaitlyn, are you bored?"

The drug store was pretty small when it started so to help buisness pick up they started giving free water.  They also have coffee for five cents a mug.

Different barb wires...

Mommy saw these posts and flowers and says, "Girls, group picture!"  :D

Next Post; Bear Country U.S.A.!