South Dakota--Day 15--Mt Rushmore

We finally make a trip over to see Mt Rushmore up close and personal. Although this is not the first time we have seen this great site it never ceases to amaze at the work that was done to accomplish this creation. It took 16 years to complete this work. The original sculptor died before it was finished and the work had to be completed by his son. A great amount of work has been done in the area since we last visited here in 1992. A huge new viewing plaza and ampitheater has been built along with two enormous parking garages.

After visiting the mountain we took a drive to Four Mile Town, the site of a former stage stop on the Cheyenne, WY, to Deadwood, SD, line. It is now a "ghost town" that is owned by a local family. They are slowly developing it into a fasinating tourist attraction with many buildings from the town saloon to a calvary fort.