Thursday, May 14, 2009

14 May 2009 Mount Rushmore South Dakota

Truly an amazing monument that was erected (blasted out of granite). I expected it to be larger, but that might only be because one only sees close-up photos of it. Today was going to be a field day for the kids with three museum visits planned. This was going to be American history 101. We left quite early and the weather had turned out quite good with very little wind and few clouds. Perfect for my photo shoot of Mt. Rushmore.On the way to the memorial. P5140067 P5140071 P5140075 P5140079

P5140095 P5140109 Inside the museum The 1:24th scale model the sculptor used to shape the mountain. The chairs by which the workmen hung from the mountain whilst working on the sculpture. Interactive displays kept the kids amused. P5140086

The  next museum was actually an living archaeological dig where the Columbian Mammoths were first uncovered. I always only thought of the Woolly Mammoth, but this was even larger.

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P5140127 P5140128 P5140132 They found about 60 Mammoths in the first 20 ft, and there are still 40  ft of sediment left in this sinkhole. A replica of the Femur. The lower jaw bone There were more than 60 species of animal bones found to date. P5140157 Practical paleontology. A shelter made from Mammoth bones

From here it was on to the frontier museum, another hands-on museum dealing from the big bang until modern day, focussing on the American Indian and Frontier period.

Another fossil found in the late 70's Hands-on exhibits. Would not last long in SA! An exhibit of how people digging up bones work. P5140176 Fossilized cycad Native American exhibit teaching about their culture Frontier lady by a doctor's Buggy Inside a real Wigwam Riding side saddle Coyote Pete! Some Bank robber

Look at all the different type of Barbed wire that were used in 1874-80 Normal Cowboy outfit

This was also the launch site of the Altitude Record set by a manned baloon 74000 ft A wooden Rairoad bridge still in use today.

These are just a few sights close to our Hotel in Keystone.

The owner of this claim had problems with his wife and she complained he never named any of his claims after her, so he did name this mine after her. An old Harley? A Chevy bench If there is water it has to be inspected for fish activity! Chainsaw art. P5140224

An animal similar to our Dassie Wind not as bad as yesterday

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