Mammoth Site and Crazy Horse Memorial

 

We boarded our bus at 8:30 and were off to Hot Springs and the Mammoth Site.  Upon arrival we learned a bit about the history of this place.  The land had a huge mound of dirt which had become a town eyesore.  In 1972 the land owner was going to start construction on the site in order to build a new development.  On the first days of digging, they encountered bones.  Upon further analysis by a local archaeologist, these were mammoth bones. He immediately ceased further work and this started the paleontologist work. They discovered that the mound was an old sinkhole developed millions of years ago. And more recently (about 20,000 years ago), mammoths and other creatures had used the sinkhole since it offered warm water and vegetation.  Unfortunately, there was slippery sandstone surrounding the sinkhole.  So once the mammoths got into the water, they weren't able to get back out. And the ultimately died from starvation and/or fatigue.

The land owner sold the land at cost to another group who built what is there now. An enclosed building that preserves the bones found in the sinkhole.  We had a tour guide take us around the site.    It was fascinating to walk around and see all the various bones.

 And what is (and isn't) there. The site reminded me of when we visited the Terra Cotta soldiers in Xian. And coincidentally, those soldiers were also found by a landowner in the early 1970"s. 

After our visit, we boarded the bus and headed to Crazy Horse. I knew hardly anything about this place. It's a memorial to the Lakota warrior Crazy Horse who was a true icon to the Native Americans who lived in the area in the late 19th century and today.  In 1948 Korczak Ziolkowski agreed to sculpt the monument.  He initially thought it was too big of a project.  And in hindsight, he was absolutely correct.  Seventy six years later and they have only completed the head, part of the arm and finger. 

Angie's favorite part was that you could take a piece of rock with you. They use dynamite to carve the memorial. That creates a lot of rocks. They bring some into the visitor center for people to take with them. 

And Korczak died in 1982.  His wife helped while she was alive. Some of his ten children are still involved in the project.   When will it be done?  No one really knows. The joke here in South Dakota is that it will be done on Monday.  But what year they can't say.  Reminds me of Sagrada Familia.   Still an impressive place.  And an inspiration to the spirit of not giving up!!  To keep on going. 

We then headed back to the hotel.  We headed to the outdoor patio to enjoy a few adult beverages. And got to experience a South Dakota hail storm. We had dinner at the our hotel: The State Game Lodge at Custer State Park. It was known as the Summer White House for President Coolidge in 1927.