22 Aug - Mount Rushmore (revised)

22 Aug
Today we headed down to the Mount Rushmore National Memorial.  It was only about an hour down there from the FamCamp.

We took 114 pictures there and will try to limit what we post here.  I just could not stop pulling the trigger.  What a beautiful sight and the surrounding area is beautiful also.  Entrance fee was a mear $5.  We parked our truck and walked up through the Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center.  Mr. Gutzon Borglum was the creator of the Memorial and Lincoln Borglum was his son, who finished the memorial after James death.  

As we continued towards the Visitor center,  we walked through an area of granite pillars displaying the States flags and the dates of their statehood.

Iowa flag flying high and proudly.

Once we arrived at the Visitor Center we proceeded to one of the two theaters for a 14 minute movie that documented the building of the Memorial.  We then walked through a museum area that further described the process including actual tools used.

Scale models were used to proportion the Monument faces as they were created.  One inch = 12 feet

Calipers used to measure as they blasted

A large protractor to measure angles

A large plumb bob used as they measured for blasting

Pnuematic drill and many bits used to drill and face the granite

Blasting equipment display

A complete blacksmith shop on-site was used to maintain, repair and fabricate tools used during the process

A sample of the drilling used to accurately remove granite as the faces are created

Boatswain's seat used by the craftsmen as they drilled and blasted.  It looks like a swing set seat but has a leather belt to keep the workers from falling out.  

  After touring the museum we walked the Presidential Trail, a 0.6 mile loop (with 422 stair steps!!) that leaves the visitor center and takes you to the base of the Memorial and back.  

Paved trail and then composite walkway and stairs.

Doreen's knee getting a workout on the 422 stairs along the way.

A look up from the trail

Looking back towards the visitor center from the trail.  You can see the amphitheater where they do the evening lighting ceremony

Spoils from the blasting and air hammering.

You can see the drilling hole marks on the granite chunks near the Presidential Trail.

Beautiful walk along the trail.

Before returning to the visitor center we stopped at the Sculptor's Studio, where Gutzon Borglum spent much of his time refining his scale model of Mount Rushmore. In there is also a model of the Hall of Records, a planned large room within the mountain that in theory would hold the documents and artifacts most central to American democratic history. The hall was finally completed in 1998 and is imbedded in the granite to the right of Lincoln's head.  It is inaccessible to the public.

We continued back to the visitor center and made our way to the amphitheater to wait for the 8pm evening lighting ceremony.

The amphitheater with the Memorial in the background

A large crowd gathered for the ceremony

The ceremony commenced with patriotic music for about 30 minutes and then promptly at 8pm a National Parks Service ranger provided a narrative on the history of the Memorial.

The ranger provided a narrative of history

The 18 minute movie

Lowering of the Flag with Veterans on the stage.  I am center stage, back row with a blue sweatshirt on 

The Flag being folded

Back row, no hair LOL!

It was a beautiful ceremony and we really enjoyed the tour of Mount Rushmore.  This is a "have to" for all ages.

Tomorrow (today!) we will first update the blog and then head to Deadwood see the town and visit the cemetery where Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane are buried.