Day Eight - Non Travel Day, Mount Rushmore Tourists

Today was a rest day. We went to Mount Rushmore. Very interesting monument. The carving was completed in 1941. The mountain rock is granite. The workers blasted away 450,000 tons of rock to complete the sculpture.

The road up to the monument has a grade of 10 percent. Boy am I glad we didn't have to travel this road towing the RV. I don't like such steep roads.

Road to Mount Rushmore

Flags of all the USA states

Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln

These presidents were chosen to be part of the monument for the following reasons:
  Washington represents the beginning of the country
  Jefferson is the author of  the Declaration of Independence
Roosevelt established land conservancy setting aside over 230 million acres of land
Lincoln held the country together during the Civil War and abolished slavery.

View from parking lot

Tunnel through rock leading to Keystone

Keystone is the town site below Mount Rushmore. Very touristy. Much like the stores at Wasaga Beach.

Red Earth of Rapid City

Tomorrow we head to Sheridan, Wyoming. After that we have changed our plans for the weekend. We are staying at Billings, Montana on Saturday and Butte, Montana on Sunday. The campground where we were originally scheduled is full this weekend. Such is life. Now we will have two short travel days instead of one longish travel day and one rest day.