 erikajj's South Dakota Travelogues | | | |
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| Page Views: 265 Last Visit to South Dakota: 2001 I Used To Live Here | The Monuments by erikajj - last update: Sep 9, 2002 |
Crazy Horse If you only have time for one monument, I promise you that Crazy Horse is worth your time. The lighting ceremony at Rushmore is pretty, but comes with a movie full of blind patriotism (read: drivel). My European friends were actually offended and rightly so. My advice: skip the heads and spend some time at Crazy Horse, which is much less commercial and you will learn the real history of the area. These "fancy dancers" performed the day we were there. There were also traditional dances and hoop dances. If you are in the area during a pow-wow, I encourage you to attend, but be very respectful that you are a guest at a community gathering. Pow-wows are not for the benefit of tourists. They are an essential part of community life. You may be asked not to take photos of certain activities or people. Please learn what you can by quietly observing and ask the people before you photograph them or their children. For more photos of Crazy Horse, see my Crazy Horse, SD page. |
Mount Rushmore I suppose a trip to Mt. Rushmore is not wasted. We go when we have friends with us who have not seen it before. We have been there so much in the last few years that it has lost its charm. And I will tell you what bothers me. The US Government signed treaties with the Lakota people that the Black Hills, their most sacred land, will always be theirs. Not only did they break that treaty, but they then chose to blow up a mountain to honor the White government and continue to make thousands of dollars every year while they are at it. While Rushmore is educational about the US Government, I hope that you take some time to learn this history in context and learn something of the Lakota people as well. |
In the past few years, there is a new trail at Rushmore that really adds to the experience. You can see the sculpture from different views, read some information along the way, and visit the sculptor's studio. There was even a sculptor in residence giving demonstrations on carving granite. |
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 Comments for erikajj about South Dakota | | | | |
JosM Sat Jan 24, 2004 16:30 UTC
gret pics and useful info. thanks | LizC Sun May 26, 2002 08:53 UTC
Great pics & tips to tour SD beyong Mt. Rushmore! | WFTR Sun Jan 27, 2002 03:25 UTC
S.D. is a great place!! | pipsqueak Mon Dec 17, 2001 17:10 UTC
It`s great to actually see animals on the wildlife loop! |
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