South Dakota-Crazy Horse Memorial, Town of Custer and Sturgis

Picking up from where I left off from the last post to our blog we made our next stop Crazy Horse Memorial.  We watched a short film about the memorial and it truly has been a work in progress for 68 years now.  It is not a federal or state project.  It is funded by admissions and private donations.

We stopped in the town of Custer before heading back to the campground.  It was getting late in the evening so as we drove back through Custer State Park the deer and elk could easily be seen along the side of the road.  It was a long day but a day filled with sights that will be unforgettable.

Our departure date from the Black Hills  was  approaching fast and no trip to the Black Hills would be complete without seeing Sturgis and driving the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway.  The canyon was the location for several scenes in the movie "Dances with Wolves".  We were told the canyon is the prettiest in the fall when the trees are changing colors.  Our stop in Sturgis was at the remains of the World's Largest Biker Bar - Full Throttle Saloon.  The bar burnt to the ground September 8, 2015 when a pinched power cord caught a cardboard box on fire.  The owner has announced he will rebuild.

We spent 9 days in South Dakota - June 28th thru July 7th.  There was so much in the area that we did not get a chance to see.  One thing about this part of the country you find yourself driving for miles and miles because of the spectacular scenery.

World's Largest Mountain Carving now in progress.

Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear invited Korczak (sculptor) to come to the Black Hills and carve a mountain.  He stated, "My fellow chiefs and I would like the white man to know the red man has great heroes, also."

"My lands are where my dead lie buried" - Crazy Horse 
This is the 1/34th scale model of the mountain carving.

Original equipment used by Korczak when he started working on the carving.  In the film he tells that every time he would get it started and climb all the steps back up to the top to begin working the machine would go "kaput".  He went up and down the steps many times in a day.

The equipment has changed through the years but the one thing that still remains is Korczak's children and grandchildren are carrying on the family legacy of Crazy Horse Memorial being completed. 

A few sites in the town of Custer.

Hail storm in Custer.

Not exactly fun to watch not knowing if the hail would get larger and no place to protect the jeep.



Flooded streets again- first time in Colorado Springs and again in Custer.

Bridal Veil Falls on Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway.





Quiet little town of Sturgis.  Only thing going on was getting ready for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in August. 





We had heard so much about this place it was sad to see the remains from the fire.

Pretty cool piece of artwork.

Some of the things in the saloon that can never be replaced were helmets of deceased riders that were placed on a wall inside.   

This had to be a one of a kind biker's bar.

Not sure what this was.







Getting ready for Sturgis 2016



Another hail storm in Hermosa, SD.



This stuff was not to kind to the jeep. 



Antique car lot in Hermosa, SD

Had to snap this picture for Larry DeFries.