It is obvious that the towns and cities around Mount
Rushmore have picked up on the presidential theme:
“The Founding Fathers Exhibit”, “The Presidential Wax Museum” etc. etc.
So also in Rapid City, the biggest city near Mt. Rushmore. Among other things they have an impressive collection of life size bronze statues of all the presidents (Obama is going up this year). These are placed on street corners in an area of 12 blocks.
Being president of the US must be one of the most difficult jobs in the world.
And when they are done, history is going to be very tough on them.
Some are remembered and made larger than life and others are totally forgotten.
We saw these statues today (the 13th). The usual suspects, that have followed us on the whole trip, were there:
Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin D Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Reagan etc. etc .
But also all the other ones that we don’t remember or know very little about
“The Founding Fathers Exhibit”, “The Presidential Wax Museum” etc. etc.
So also in Rapid City, the biggest city near Mt. Rushmore. Among other things they have an impressive collection of life size bronze statues of all the presidents (Obama is going up this year). These are placed on street corners in an area of 12 blocks.
Being president of the US must be one of the most difficult jobs in the world.
And when they are done, history is going to be very tough on them.
Some are remembered and made larger than life and others are totally forgotten.
We saw these statues today (the 13th). The usual suspects, that have followed us on the whole trip, were there:
Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin D Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Reagan etc. etc .
But also all the other ones that we don’t remember or know very little about
 |
| William H. Taft (27th president): The first president to throw a ceremonial pitch at a major baseball game |
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| Groover Cleveland (22nd and 24th president): The only president to serve two separated terms |
 |
Calvin Coolidge (30th president):
He was born on Independence Day (4. Juli) |
 |
| Martin Van Buren (8th president): Founder of the Democratic Party |
Less than 50 people have had this powerful and demanding job, but nevertheless more than half of them seem to fade into oblivion (går i glemsel).
Yes, the Black Hills area is known for the Presidents. But there is SO much more here – namely NATURE!!!!!
The name “Black Hills” comes from the Lakota Indian name – Pahá Sápa. The hills look black from a distance,
because of the pine trees, that grow on them.
One of the best places to get close to nature is in Custer State Park. This was where we camped 23 years ago, when our dream started. We went back on June 14. We drove two of the park’s scenic routes – the wildlife loop and the needles loop. We went early, because that is a good time to see the animals. We did see lots of buffaloes; many prairie dogs, different kinds of deer, and birds; plus a group of wild burrows (æsler).
We have seen and learned a lot about buffaloes on our trip –
from Yellowstone to here. It is a very impressive animal.
Here is some of the
information we have gathered:
- An adult bull can be over 6’ (2m) tall at the shoulder. He can be 11’ (3,70 m) long and weigh up to 2000 lbs (900 kg).
It is the largest land mammal in North America.
- They look slow and lazy (try waiting for a herd to cross the road!), but they can run 35 mph (56 km i timen) -
almost 3 times as fast as a human.
- The Native Americans – especially the Plains Indians, like the Sioux, depended on the buffalo for many things –
their hides, fur, bones, horns, tendons where used for many things. And most importantly, the meat was a very
important part of the diet.
- They were very close to becoming extinct (uddø). In 1830 the population was estimated (skønnet) to be around 40 million.
In 1870 it was down to 5½ million. In 1880 only 395 thousand! Around 1900 the population was 300!!
Not 300 thousand but three hundred buffaloes in the entire USA!!
- The rapid decrease in population had many factors, most of them having to do with the new human inhabitants (settlers,
cowboys, fur trappers…) Hunting, wolves, wildfires, droughts, diseases, and less grazing land effected the buffalo.
- But the biggest decrease in their numbers came, when the railroad was built. Meat was needed for the railroad workers,
and buffalo was plentiful and nearby. The railroad also provided a means of more rapid shipment of meat and furs,
to the population in the eastern USA. The railroad also enabled settlers to move more quickly and easily to the west,
so more began to move. This was the biggest factor!
- More settlers meant more need for land. The Native Americans were reluctant to give up any more, so the US Army
(Generals Sherman and Sheridan) decided to kill the buffalo, in order to starve the Indians off of their lands. It worked!
(Another sad chapter in American history☹)
- Today it is estimated that there are around 350000 in the US.
- In 2016 a law was passed making the buffalo the national mammal (pattedyr).
Thus being one of only two national animals (the other, of course, the bald eagle).
The needles loop has some very interesting scenery. It is
called “needles” (nåle), because of the rock that is formed in columns, that
look a little like needles. Here are a few scenes from the drive.
- An adult bull can be over 6’ (2m) tall at the shoulder. He can be 11’ (3,70 m) long and weigh up to 2000 lbs (900 kg).
It is the largest land mammal in North America.
- They look slow and lazy (try waiting for a herd to cross the road!), but they can run 35 mph (56 km i timen) -
almost 3 times as fast as a human.
- The Native Americans – especially the Plains Indians, like the Sioux, depended on the buffalo for many things –
their hides, fur, bones, horns, tendons where used for many things. And most importantly, the meat was a very
important part of the diet.
- They were very close to becoming extinct (uddø). In 1830 the population was estimated (skønnet) to be around 40 million.
In 1870 it was down to 5½ million. In 1880 only 395 thousand! Around 1900 the population was 300!!
Not 300 thousand but three hundred buffaloes in the entire USA!!
- The rapid decrease in population had many factors, most of them having to do with the new human inhabitants (settlers,
cowboys, fur trappers…) Hunting, wolves, wildfires, droughts, diseases, and less grazing land effected the buffalo.
- But the biggest decrease in their numbers came, when the railroad was built. Meat was needed for the railroad workers,
and buffalo was plentiful and nearby. The railroad also provided a means of more rapid shipment of meat and furs,
to the population in the eastern USA. The railroad also enabled settlers to move more quickly and easily to the west,
so more began to move. This was the biggest factor!
- More settlers meant more need for land. The Native Americans were reluctant to give up any more, so the US Army
(Generals Sherman and Sheridan) decided to kill the buffalo, in order to starve the Indians off of their lands. It worked!
(Another sad chapter in American history☹)
- Today it is estimated that there are around 350000 in the US.
- In 2016 a law was passed making the buffalo the national mammal (pattedyr).
Thus being one of only two national animals (the other, of course, the bald eagle).
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| The next generation, nursing (diende) |
 |
| Driving through the "eye of the needle" tunnel |
Written by JJ and Mary
Beautiful Scenery!!
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