The Black Hills of South Dakota are ground zero for your Wild West adventure vacation
Nowhere else in the United States will you find an area so steeped in Old West folklore, art, mystique, and lore that the moment you arrive, your mind can’t help but throw off the illusion of pseudo-bliss. gained from modern conveniences and begin to absorb the reality of what life was really like for our 19th century ancestors.
This was life in its rawest form and only the toughest, toughest-skinned men and women survived. It wasn’t easy, but it was real and it brought a joy only a true cowboy could realize: living every moment to the fullest, constantly testing your worth and facing your problems head-on in an environment ready to chew up and spit out the weak. These people were forged in steel, pounded relentlessly by an unforgiving earth, and instilled with a strength, strength, and genuine happiness that you and I can only imagine.
Rated as one of the five most dangerous towns in the Old West, Deadwood, South Dakota can be summed up in one word: Attitude. The cowboy’s attitude was the litmus test that determined whether he would survive a confrontation or be left lying on the ground to feed the vultures. Could he stare at some petty swearword and make her walk away with her tail between her legs? I bet he could, if he intended to leave himself.
This is the town where notorious gunslinger and lawman James “Wild Bill” Hickok was shot to death while playing his last hand of poker, the famous Dead Man’s Hand: two black aces and two black eights. Frontier scout Calamity Jane roamed these deadly streets, as did tough Sheriff Seth Bullock.
Gold was the biological mother of this bustling town, and where gold goes, so does violence and corruption. Running through a treacherous ravine littered with dead wood was a stream rich in gold, the likes of which had not been seen since California’s heyday. It attracted all the ruffians and highwaymen from every corner of the country, eager to get their own share of the prize. It was not uncommon for territorial disputes to be resolved by gunshots.
Tourists can still walk through the Broken Boot Underground Gold Mine and see the veins looted by miners more than a century ago. You can even pan for gold if that’s to your liking. And, in keeping with its gaming tradition, several historic gaming rooms are available where you can try your luck at a hand of cards; just make sure you keep your back against the wall…
Located just a few miles from the city of Keystone is the famous Mount Rushmore National Monument. A grandiose conception fully realized on an even greater scale, these sixty-foot heads carved into the granite of the mountainside are impressive. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln are testaments to the ingenuity and perseverance of the American spirit. As impressive as the sight of this massive stone sculpture is, the actual work behind its construction is even more impressive.
The initial blasting and carving of dynamite began in 1927 and ended (due to lack of federal funds) in 1941, for a total of fourteen years of grueling and grueling work, along with several tragic and dramatic deaths that are par for the course in this type. transcendental company. This writer’s first job after graduating from high school was working on the concession located at the base of Mount Rushmore. It was a wonderful way to spend the summer, soaking up the culture and history of the Old West and later, as a reward for our efforts, the employees took a special guided tour to the top of the sculpture. Here I was allowed to stand on the precipice of Jefferson’s head and, for the first time, fully understand what it must have been like to be dangling in the air with a hammer and chisel, a few feet of wispy rope securing you against a fall. fatal to the jagged rocks below.
Not to be outdone, a few miles down the road is the Crazy Horse Memorial. Touted as the world’s largest mountain carving, this sculpture of the Oglala Lakota chief Crazy Horse (still in its infancy) is a tribute to the unyielding spirit of Native Americans in the face of incredible adversity. Along with the sculpture itself, there’s an impressive North American Indian Museum of History, displaying artifacts from American Indian nations from across the United States.
Travel southwest from Rapid City to Custer and you’ll arrive at Jewel Cave National Monument. This cave is unique to the United States for several different reasons: not only is it the second longest cave in the world (one hundred and fifty miles, with much of the labyrinthine interior still unmapped), but it’s also home to the most impressive collection on the planet. of dog’s tooth crystals, nailhead and calcite spar; hence the name Cueva de la Joya. The drive is half a mile long, returning after a ninety-minute jaunt into its pristine depths.
These are just a few sights and activities for you to take part in on your travels through the Black Hills of South Dakota. So, cowboy up! and get ready for an incredible historical journey to the number one vacation destination in the Old West of this country. And remember: keep your powder dry, mate.