The Corn Palace on main street in Mitchell, South Dakota. The palace is one of a kind decorated with thousands of bushels of corn, grain and grasses. Each year the murals on the exterior walls are changed. Locals call it the world's largest bird feeder!
We have really enjoyed the last few days in South Dakota but we're ready to move on and see new sights. Tomorrow we are heading east. Next stop - Minnesota and the Great Lakes.
This morning we went to Sturgis to check out all the motorcycles coming in for the rally next week. The town was already quite busy (and entertaining!). Then we drove over to the old gold mining town of Deadwood. There were almost as many bikes there as Sturgis. I had forgotten the camera so took the photo above with my cell phone.
Hey Rylee and Parker, here is a photo of a baby burro we saw in Custer State Park. It was so cute and fuzzy that Grandma wanted to take it home with her!
One of the buffalo herds in the state park. They were causing quite a traffic jam as everyone stopped to take photos.
The Crazy Horse Memorial in the Black Hills. We toured the museum and welcome center then watched a film about the sculptor who began work on the mountain in 1949. When he passed away in 1982 his sons and daughters chose to continue the project. The monument of the Sioux chief is the world's largest carving in progress at 563 feet high. It will be several times larger than Mount Rushmore when completed.
We visited Mount Rushmore early yesterday morning. It is really an amazing sight. Donnie and I walked the Presidential trail that goes right along the base of the monument.
Donnie at the Mount Rushmore entrance. We went back to the monument last night for the evening program and lighting ceremony. There was a great patriotic film about the four presidents and our country's history. Then everything went dark and the monument was lighted. The program ended with a flag ceremony honoring current members of the military as well as veterans. It was an experience we will never forget.
