The Black Hills....Day four, Crazy Horse

A gloriously warm morning!! What a wonderful thing, especially given it's Luke's 2nd birthday! We started out with a phone call from daddy, the typical breakfast, clean up, get dressed kind of stuff. Then it was time to head out for the Crazy Horse Memorial.

Okay, so it wasn't quite warm enough to run around in shorts and a t-shirt, but at least we weren't in 5 layers of clothes. The sky was beautifully blue, the breeze was light, and the day was just.....waiting for us.

We headed out and passed Mount Rushmore. Around the corner is an incredible view of the profile of George Washington. We stopped. How could you not? Out came the cameras and binoculars while we stared in awe. There were some mountain goats up on the rocks. I got a great view of them, billy included, through the binoculars, but there was no way I would ever have been able to get a picture. It's pretty amazing how they skirt around on those ledges like it's a full-sized gym floor.

From this angle it was also visible that there's a chip in George Washington's nose, and some rocks sitting on top of his head (I believe on purpose, I couldn't get a close enough look). It's also a nice spot to get a good look at how Borglum designed the eyes of these massive sculptures.

Back in the mini-van and on to Crazy Horse. We discussed how people who've visited this memorial either love it or say it's a huge disappointment. There's no median, just a great like or a great dislike. I don't know all of the reasons, but I know one major one is a misunderstanding and/or distaste for Native American life and traditions. I've never quite gotten that one, but I was able to grow up in an area with a heavy influence of that life and those traditions, so I've always had an appreciation. Some also dislike this memorial because it is a private facility with the entrance fees paying for the construction. It's an interesting argument.

We rounded the corner and pulled into the gate. We were all wowed by the sight. It's a different kind of wow than Rushmore offers, though. I can't really explain it.

We watched the movie, looked around at the museum exhibits, glanced in the gift shop, then grabbed some lunch. It was pretty exciting to see food I hadn't had since I was in high school. I know that's funny, but I love fry bread and Navajo Tacos, and I haven't had them for years! After we ate we explored some more. It was a special week and there were a large number of American Indians from all over the nation visiting. We enjoyed talking to them and learned things we hadn't known before. For example, I can now tell the difference between American turquoise and Chinese turquoise.

We toured the Ziolkowski's home that is connected to the museum (and still the residence of Mrs. Ziolkowski, now well into her 80's). That was pretty cool! Oh, the Ziolkowski's are the family that are building the memorial, at the request of the Native American community. They have lived on the property since the inception.

We took a bus ride to the base of the memorial. What a fantastic vantage point! You are close enough to see the mineral deposits in Crazy Horse's eyebrow, you see the opposite side. You get a much better idea of where the University, clinic, housing, and stuff will be. You also get the best example of the massive size of this memorial. It's one thing to just say that all four faces on Mount Rushmore will fit into Crazy Horse's head, it's another to stand below and see just how very true that is.

Sometime in here Luke fell asleep on Grampa's lap.

We stayed around through the evening. We were treated to Native American dancers during dinner, something that thoroughly intrigued Luke. It was his first experience with that. He loved the music, was highly interested in the dancers, but decided not to join the other young kids who ventured up to dance. I think he was a little intimidated by the costumes. He was treated to a piece of cake with 2 candles on it, brought to him by a singing restaurant staff (much to my surprise!). I think that was probably his favorite part of the day.

After dinner we ventured into a part of the museum building with a wall of windows looking out to the memorial. There was another family there with a few kids and they had a ball entertaining my boy, and he had a ball playing with them. This included Luke figuring out the benches made great tunnels (boy was he sad and cried big tears when I said he had to get out and not play there!). We watched deer feed in the grass right below us, watched more goats moving around on the rocks, and enjoyed the music while waiting for the laser light show to begin.

If you have plans to visit this memorial, you really need to stay or return for the laser light show! It's fantastic! The music is wonderful, the story is great, and even the 2-year old boy sat still while glued to the show. Then it was time to go back to the house.

We went back the same way and managed to catch Washington's profile before the lights were off for the night. It was another comical action trying to get pictures, but we were more successful. The picture snapped just a split second before the lights went out. It was the perfect way to cap the day.

Luke stayed awake all the way back to the house, but he crashed hard when his pj's were put on. It was a great, great day, and a birthday I hope he'll always remember......