This morning started with a quick breakfast in the RV before driving over to Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Once we walked up the steps and it came into view we were all mesmerized by the size and exactness of the amazing sculpture built into the mountainside. It was a very patriotic moment to see these four important faces of American History sitting above the walkway that was lined with each of the state flags.
Once we took it all in we made our way to the information center and found out about all of the ranger programs going on today.
We were excited to attend the 10:30 talk about how to take the perfect picture because we were all working on our photography skills. The ranger talked a lot about balance and framing.
[Slideshow of some of our favorite pictures taken during the photography ranger talk]
After this ended we attended the Introduction to Lakota Dance & Song which focused on hoop dancing. We literally ran back to the Grandview Terrace to get there on time and made it just before it started. As they were introducing the program they mentioned this only happens once a week. We were so glad we happened to come on the day it was occurring.
Starr Chief Eagle from the Lakota Sioux Tribe was there to teach and demonstrate. She explained how it honors the land and animals by showcasing the two legged, four legged, winged and rooted. She started hoop dancing before she could walk. For 27 years she has been learning and improving her own hoop dance. Mattea Maya Meisner, her ten year old niece was also with her. Three years ago she asked her auntie to teach her hoop dancing and she has been working on hers ever since. She has gotten to the point of using 5 hoops in her dance. Her aunt used over 20 hoops. Ella and Lily got the opportunity to learn a few steps with their own hoop.
[Hoop dance video below]
After the presentation was complete we all went over to personally meet Starr Chief Eagle and thank her.
By this time we were all ready for lunch. We went to the cafeteria and sat at the tables outside to eat with a perfect view of Mount Rushmore in the background.
We headed down to the sculptor’s studio after lunch for a ranger presentation to learn how the sculptor Gutzon Borglum orchestrated and accomplished this masterpiece.
Ella was picked to help demonstrate the instrument he used to figure out measurements and scale.
A few hundred workers participated in the construction of Mount Rushmore from 1927 to 1941. We could not believe the tiny leather seats they used to suspend themselves high atop the ground. The usage of dynamite and the exact precision they needed and accomplished was beyond remarkable.
When looking at the sculpture from the vantage point at the studio, the gap in the mountain between Roosevelt and Lincoln was not visible. This was where Borglum designed the sculpture and the way he intended it to be seen.
We had about 45 minutes until the next ranger program at 2pm so we decided to walk the Presidential Trail. This is a relatively short .6 mile walk with 422 stairs. It provides a variety of views along with exhibits dedicated to each of the four presidents along the way.
One of our favorite spots was a little tunnel that was pointed out to us at the photography talk earlier. From the slit of an opening you could see a very unique perspective.
At 2pm we were back at the Grandview Terrace to attend the "What was he thinking?" ranger program. We were all so fascinated we wanted to attend as many programs as possible to learn and understand as much as we could. When we got to the meeting point we looked around everywhere but could not find a group.
While we were trying to figure out where to go we stopped another ranger walking by to ask for help. She left to try and find out. A few minutes later she returned and let us know she wasn’t sure where the ranger was who was scheduled to do the 2pm. She then said she wanted to give us a private talk about whatever we wanted to learn. We were so excited and grateful for this and accepted her very gracious offer. We walked over to the path leading to the base of Mount Rushmore. While we were standing there out of the corner of my eye I spotted something white moving in the trees on the hillside to our left. I turned my head and couldn’t believe what I saw. Just a few feet away were 2 beautiful mountain goats grazing. Immediately I showed the ranger and we all stood there and watched them. She shared with us the naturalists have figured out there are 16 mountain goats that call Mount Rushmore home. Ella particularly loved the story she told of how they sometimes climb the sculpture and can be seen inside of Washington’s eye.
She spent about 45 minutes with us telling many stories of the history of Mount Rushmore including the chamber in a canyon behind the carved faces with sixteen porcelain enamel panels. The panels include the text of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the biographies of the four presidents and Borglum, and the history of the US. It was intended to be the entrance to a "Hall of Records" that has never been built.
It was getting warm and we all felt it was a good time for an ice cream break. While walking to the cafeteria we turned the corner by the Avenue of Flags and standing in the bushes right by the walkway was another mountain goat. This one was wearing a tracking collar. We stood there and watched him for a very long time.
Once he moved up the hill we moved onto the cafeteria. We noticed a sign that said one of their flavors was Thomas Jefferson’s recipe for vanilla ice cream - who knew inventing ice cream was on his list of accomplishments. The girls each picked their flavor and we went to sit at the tables outside again.
We went into the information center to check out the exhibits inside and to get the girls their jr ranger books. We sat on the benches outside while the girls worked.
Once finished we took them back to have their work checked, get sworn in and receive their badges.
We wanted to stay for the end of the day program at dusk which would end with Mount Rushmore being illuminated. This did not start until 8pm so we spent some time watching the movie and exploring the exhibits at the visitor center. Then we went back to the cafeteria for dinner.
As it got closer to 8 we returned to the Amphitheater for the lighting ceremony. Being here at this time was particularly poignant because Trump was forcing transgender people out of the military and there was tons of awful news that would break each day. The night time program started with all the veterans in the audience being called onto stage and the audience all gave them a standing ovation for their service. The ranger presenting the program was getting choked up when she spoke of what Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln had envisioned for the future of United States- freedom and equality for ALL. As the sun went down the program continued and they played a short movie. Then while everyone sat in silence and awe the lights slowly came on. Next the National Anthem started to play as we all gazed up to see this incredible work of art gently a glow in the middle of the dark sky. When we arrived this morning we thought we were simply checking Mount Rushmore off the list. We did not expect to be here for more than a few hours or be as moved and enamored as we were. This ended up being one of our longest stays at a single location and one of our favorite days of the trip.
