Bob and I were up at 5:45 am today to start our drive from Rapid City, South Dakota to Bozeman, Montana for our next sit. However, before we even thought about heading to Montana, we had to see Mount Rushmore. Beth had never been there, and Bob hadn’t been there since high school. It was only a 30 minute drive from Rapid City.
As with yesterday and the advertising for Wall Drug, we passed a lot of touristy sites on the way to Mount Rushmore.
they have every US President created in lifelike wax.
before driving into the National Memorial.
The Mount Rushmore National Memorial opens at 5:00 am daily, and the website encourages you to come before 9:00 am if you want to beat the crowds. After dressing, loading the car, checking out of the hotel, and filling up with gas, Bob and I got to the park a little before 7:00 am. There were only about 6 other people there. It was amazing. The only way to truly take in the incredible sculpture of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln, but also the beauty of the memorial and the natural surroundings.
and saw it almost to completion after 14 years.
and 2 US commonwealths
and the closest view of the monument
After we left the park , we had about a 7.5 hour drive to Bozeman, Montana, beginning by heading back into Rapid City, South Dakota. The entire drive from Rapid City through a little bit of Wyoming and then through Montana to Bozeman was really scenic and gave us a greater appreciation for this large, geographically varied country.
into Rapid City from Mount Rushmore.
Peckish Travels 