Deadwood, Lead, and Rapid City

Today was our final day in South Dakota as we fly out at 6am tomorrow morning!  So we went to places we haven't gotten to go to yet!  The weather cooperated (no rain and the sun came out to play) and we had a great final day of sightseeing!

We drove to Deadwood to go to Moriah Cemetery to see where 3 prominent people of Deadwood's history are buried...

Calamity Jane

Potato Creek Johnny

Wild Bill

Then we went to Adams Museum to learn more about the history of Deadwood

Then we had lunch in downtown Deadwood (known for gambling!)

 

 Then we drove through Lead and found an open pit mine

It really was a cool sight to see!

This monument is to honor all of the miners that have worked at this mine

Then we drove back to Rapid City to go see the Chapel in the Hills

It is a Norweigan designed wooden chapel that was absolutely gorgeous!  A son built it for his parents who moved here long ago from Norway.  It was absolutely breathtaking! 

Bell tower and bell donated

The gift shop... love the grass on the roof!

Then Aunt Jeanne so kindly did the walk of the Presidents with me through downtown Rapid City.  They have a statue of all the past presidents on each corner throughout down town!  It was really cool to see!  I took a picture of all of them but thought I would spare you that and just show you my favorites!

Warren G. Harding (never heard of him before but the dog was cute!)

Andrew Jackson (I'm related to him)

George Washington

My favorite president: Abraham Lincoln

For dinner we ate at this amazing Mexican Restaurant!  Great last meal!

Thanks Aunt Jeanne for an amazing trip!  I had a blast traveling with you! I love you!

Mine, Wine, Train, and an Indian

Today started out as a very chilly and very rainy day! But we also slept in today, which is what you do on a rainy day, right? ;)  So when it came to planning today's activities, we are had to choose things that could be done indoors!

We started our day by touring Big Thunder Gold Wine which was once a real working mine.  It was very cool to tour and neater than I once thought.  Loved the history behind it all!

Then we headed to check out this small Glass Blowing factory and store (they wouldn't allow any pictures inside)

For lunch, we headed to a winery in Hills City which did not disappoint!  We tasted 5 wines for free and ate lunch there.  The wines were amazing as was lunch!

This wine was my favorite!

Then we headed to take the 1880s train from Hill City to Keystone and back to Hill City.  It was neat train ride with gorgeous views!

View of Main Street in Keystone

Then we headed to see the Crazy Horse Monument which is of monument carved into the side of a mountain of Crazy Horse (a famous Indian)

This is the man who started the monument.  He has since died and his children and grandchild are seeing his visions through.  This monument is not nearly done.

 

Here is Crazy Horse's head and arm

These are different Native American flags

How Indians lived long ago

All the different colored beads using in Native American clothing and such

This is what the monument will look like when completed one day

For dinner, we ate in Hill City.  This is my Bison steak, mac and cheese, and homemade baked beans!