Deadwood, SD

Our last stop in South Dakota was in Deadwood, where the whole city is considered a National Historic Landmark.

Deadwood of the past was known for its gold rush in the 1870s that brought along with it gamblers, brothels, saloons, and a general lawlessness. But Deadwood is probably most famous for being where Wild Bill Hickok was murdered by Jack McCall.

Deadwood of today features a downtown with casinos, shops, restaurants, and bars, many of which are named with a nod to the past: Calamity Jane this, Wild Bill that, Goldrush something, and Silverado something else. During the peak season of summer there's also a daily reenactment of the shooting of Wild Bill (we unfortunately missed the show).

We walked through the cemetery where Wild Bill and Calamity Jane are buried side by side (her dying wish). At the cemetery there is also an outlook in the back of the property that gives a wonderful vantage point to see the town of Deadwood down below.

-Amanda

PS - be sure to stop at the Antique Emporium on your way into town!

Deadwood on Dwellable

The Black Hills & Custer, SD

When we left Mount Rushmore we continued driving through the Black Hills. We were thrilled to be driving among the forested mountains - it was a very welcome change of scenery.

On our drive we made a stop at the Crazy Horse Memorial. We somehow didn't realize that the monument is still being constructed, and the entrance fee ($10 per adult or $27 per carload) seemed pricey for something that's not yet finished. It does help soften the blow to know that these fees are the primary source of revenue for finishing the project and that there is a museum onsite to tour during your visit. But had we done more research and realized all this, we would have skipped paying to drive in to the complex and instead viewed the monument profile from the road, like many others were.

We made our way to the town of Custer, SD, which is said to be the oldest town established by European Americans in the Black Hills region. We grabbed a late lunch of bison burgers and local beer at some small tavern and walked the main strip of town. (Ed. note: I had this explicable expectation to have a juicy, delicious, fresh, and local bison burger while we were in the heart of the Midwest. But time and time again, we ended up eating thin, frozen bison patties. I consider this one of the trip's culinary fails. -T) The building exteriors and the few swinging saloon doors add to the charm of this little town and help transport you back to the days of wild west shootouts.

-Amanda

Custer on Dwellable

Mount Rushmore National Memorial, SD (plus a video!)

It wouldn't be a USA road trip without a stop at Mount Rushmore, where the faces of Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln are carved into a massive piece of granite (we learned that the original plans called for not just the heads, but also the torsos).

The sculpture can be spotted from the road and many people opted to pull over on road shoulder to take pictures, rather than paying to park at the memorial. An important note: even though this park is operated by the National Park Service and is free to enter, you will have to pay to park (even if you have an annual NPS pass, because the parking is managed by a third party).

This was a quick stop for us, two hours tops. We viewed the sculpture from a distance, while going through the Avenue of Flags (it's lined with flags from the 56 US states, territories, and districts), then walked the Presidential Trail that puts you at the ground under the statue (you can look way up and see inside the Presidents' noses). The on-site museum was really informative and enjoyable; it's definitely worth a peek inside.

When we drove away and got a few miles north of the park we noticed people cliff jumping into the beautiful Horse Thief Lake.  We stopped and Taras got up the courage to make the jump (with the help of a fearless 12 year old girl) while I cheered from the sideline.

Now I present to you the many angles and close-ups of Mount Rushmore!

-Amanda

Badlands National Park, SD (plus a video!)

 Badlands National Park is full of eroded buttes, pinnacles, and spires, mixed with beautiful grass prairie land (we got to see our prairie dog friends again!). The landscape is stunning and shocking, especially since we hadn't yet seen anything like it. We spent only a couple hours driving around the park, and I would say that's plenty of time to take it all in - we definitely didn't feel like we were missing out by omitting the trail walks or overnight camping.

Maybe the coolest part about the park was the mountain goats!!! So many exclamation points because they were that cool.  They hang out in the pinnacles and seem to defy nature as they walk about. How they keep from falling is a mystery to me.  The cool factor of all the colors and layers of the spires and pinnacles came in at a very close second place.

When we arrived at the park the sun was high, causing harsh shadows on the landscape, and by the time we neared the end of the park the sun was starting to set, allowing for some softer views. I have to say, it was neat to see the transition of the sun and the impact it had on the views.

-Amanda