sd rocks

Two drives today through the Custer State Park, South Dakota’s oldest and largest park.
 
First we did the Wildlife Loop Road. It wound through some lovely forest where we saw a few deer. Then onto the grassy plains, through a prairie dog town, and through the area where their bison herds were hanging out today. Hundreds of bison of all ages were grazing there, including many babies from this spring, some still nursing from their mothers. They are magnificent beasts. Also saw some mules (donkeys?) in the road.

​Next came the Needles Highway, a civil engineering feat that meanders through some magnificent rock formations, with gorgeous views, and includes three narrow (barely one car wide) tunnels. The story goes that Peter Norbeck, the politician most responsible for the park, went to his engineer and asked if he could build a highway through this area. The response was “yes, if you get me enough dynamite.” He got all the explosives he needed and the road was built in 1922. (Picture with Ed for scale!)

​Our last stop of the day was the Crazy Horse Memorial (https://crazyhorsememorial.org). This is a mountain being carved into a statue of the Lakota chief Crazy Horse on his horse pointing to his historic tribal lands. It was started in 1948 by Korczak Ziolkowski, a sculptor from Connecticut who was recruited by Henry Standing Bear, a Lakota elder, to create the monument. They are celebrating the 75th anniversary this year and it is far from complete. Crazy Horse’s head, his arm, and his hand are reasonably complete and they are working on the horse’s head. Currently, the third generation of Ziolowskis are heading up the effort. In addition to the monument, there is an Indian museum, a cultural center and an Indian University.

Our Cambridge life intruded on The Journey as both Laura (teaching) and Ed (board meeting) had commitments that tied up the afternoon and evening. Dinner was eaten back in our hotel after our meetings courtesy of a place close to Laura’s heart. Back on the road tomorrow.