Here’s a worthy road trip that will create a lot of ooohs and aaahs from the whole family! South Dakota’s National and State Parks offer amazing opportunities to view history and amazing feats of both man and nature! These are the top 4 areas to explore in and around Custer, SD.
First stop Jewel Cave National Monument. Currently the second longest cave in the world with over 141 miles of mapped passageways!
Can you squeeze through this little 24 inch x 12 inch box? Do you operate well in complete darkness for days? Can you crawl on your belly for miles (aptly named the miseries)? Can you take everything you brought into Jewel Cave out with you – including your personal waste? Well then you may have a shot at becoming an official mapper of Jewel Cave. For the last 50 plus years several people have volunteered to crawl and and painstakingly map the labyrinth. It is a labor of love and some couples have been mapping the cave for decades! OK, so you don’t want to map the cave – no problem. It is probably best just to take the family on the fantastic tour offered. Bring a warm jacket! You will feel a great temperature drop when you climb into the sealed elevator that will take you down nearly 20 stories! The tour guide will give you all the history, myths and facts about Jewel Cave. At one point in the tour they turn off all the lights and it is as dark as dark can be! Still want to be a cave mapper? Make Jewel Cave a must see on your vacation.
Next stop Mt Rushmore!
Wow – you have to see Mt. Rushmore first hand to fully appreciate the enormous undertaking this was. The project took 14 years to complete and today you can visit the Sculptor’s Studio where Gutzon Borglum’s vision was first realized. The studio holds the original plaster model of the sculpture as well as four measuring instruments used to record ratios on the model. The four presidents faces sculpted into the side of Mount Rushmore National Memorial were chosen for what they symbolize for American history. George Washington symbolizes the birth of the nation and the fight for independence. Thomas Jefferson represents the importance of governing through the people. The Declaration of Independence and the Louisiana Purchase fall under his name as well. Abraham Lincoln’s image holds the values of freedom and equality, as well as the preservation of the union of states. Theodore Roosevelt symbolizes the growing international role of the U.S. in the 20th century.
Every evening year round at dusk the memorial is lighted for two hours. From Memorial Day to Labor Day an evening program starts at 9pm, and at 8pm in September, and includes a 30 minute ranger talk, a short film, singing of the national anthem and the lighting of the presidents faces. The Park Rangers are a wealth of information and there are presentations daily. You can go into the museum area and see incredible photos showing the contruction and progression of Mt Rushmore. Be sure to let the younger children plunge down the dynamite ignitor and watch the TV screen blow off a big chunk of granite!
Just down the road is another amazing feat of man’s determination to leave a monument to memorialize it’s proud past and culture. Crazy Horse Memorial is located 17 miles south of Mount Rushmore and is the largest sculpture in the world. The project is still not finished as it relies soley on private donors.
The sculpture portrays Crazy Horse riding his horse and pointing out over his people’s land, saying “my lands are where my dead lie buried.” Crazy Horse was chosen to be represented in this monument because he is a hero to the Lakota Sioux Indians. The on site museum houses incredible aritifacts and historical information about the Indian tribes that lived in the Black Hills and surrounding areas of South Dakota.
The last stop will take you back to the Black Hills Gold Rush of 1878! A time of outlaws, back stabbers, gold diggers, whiskey and women! Deadwood, SD sprung up over night as gold fever swept the hills! Tour the Mount Moriah cemetery to see where Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickock and other notable characters are said to be buried.
The museums are incredible here – they chronicle the life and times of many cultures and peoples who inhabitated Deadwood. You can spend hours reading and viewing artifacts and fantastic displays. Don’t forget to step in for a drink at Kevin Costner’s saloon and bar. You can even view the actual U.S. Cavalry uniform worn by Lieutenant Dunbar (Costner) in the famous movie “Dance’s with Wolves”. The main boulevard through downtown has many interesting shops to find the perfect Deadwood Souvenirs. There are so many beautiful places in between all of these locations. Incredible wildlife at Custer State Park too! Make a point to spend a few days exploring this fascinating area of South Dakota!
Families need more room than hotels offer – Find South Dakota Vacation Rentals and Cabins – Travelers search US maps and owners list properties for Free