Tag: Black Hills

Devils Tower

Devils Tower
Devils Tower is a natural stone formation that rises 1267 feet in the Black Hills of
northeastern Wyoming. President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed Devils Tower the first
US National Monument in 1906.
Nobody knows how this unusual rock was formed, but geologists have put forth several
theories. They agree that Devils Tower is an “igneous intrusion”, which is magma that
hardened while still underground. This may have happened 60 million years ago, which
is when the Rocky Mountains were forming too. Scientists disagree about how this
magma eventually came to tower so high above its surroundings. A popular theory sets
Devils Tower as the neck of an old volcano. In this theory, the rest of the mountain
eroded away.
Weather continues to erode the tower. Cracks fill with ice and expand, and rocks then fall
to the ground. Piles of broken lava columns at the base of the tower indicate that it used
to be larger.
Native Americans also have stories to explain Devils Towers. In their stories, the tower is
called Mateo Tepee, meaning Grizzly Bear Lodge. The rock’s long vertical cracks
reminded people of scratches that a bear might make. In a Kiowa story, for example,
seven little girls were playing far from their village when bears started to chase them. The
girls ran to a small rock and prayed for it to save them. The rock started to push upwards,
higher and higher until the girls were out of the bears’ reach. The bears scratched at the
rock and broke their claws. The Kiowa say that these little girls were pushed upward to
the sky; they now form a seven-star constellation. Another version of the story has little
boys chased by bears, and an eagle carries them home from the tall rock.
Devils Tower appears insurmountable to many. Henry Newt, who was part of area’s first
geological survey, wrote in 1875: “Its summit is so entirely inaccessible that the energetic
explorer… standing at its base could only look upward in despair of ever planting his feet
on the top.” Nonetheless, a Wyoming rancher named William Rogers ascended the tower
in 1893; he climbed up with the aid of wooden pegs that he’d drive into cracks. A more
professional ascent was made in 1937 by a small party representing the American Alpine
Club. The climb can be made relatively easy or extremely challenging according to the
path someone chooses.
The tower is still sacred to several Native American Plains tribes, including the Lakota
Sioux, Cheyenne, and Kiowa. There have been conflicts between tourists who want to
climb the tower and indigenous people who hold ceremonies around the monument.
There is now a compromise that involves a voluntary climbing ban in June, which is
when the tribes traditionally use the tower most. This compromise has not satisfied
everyone, since climbers see the rock as federal land and Native Americans see ascension
of the monument as desecration. About 4,000 people climb Devils Tower every year.
According to a PBS documentary called In Light of Reverence, most agree not to climb
during the month of ceremonies.

The region is also known for its colorful rock layers. The oldest visible rocks have been
dated to the Triassic period, or about 200 million years ago. These are dark red sandstone
and siltstone, colored by oxidized iron. A thin white band of Jurassic-era gypsum follows.
People can also spot gray-green shale, red mudstone, and yellow sandstone.

The United States was probably first aware of Devils Tower after an 1859 Yellowstone
expedition led by Captain W. F. Reynolds. In 1875 Colonel Richard Dodge led a
geological survey to the rock. It was Dodge who named Devils Tower; he thought that
natives called it “Bad God’s Tower”. Congress designated the area a US forest reserve in
1892, and by 1906 it was the country’s first national monument. In addition to the tower,
the park includes the Belle Fourche River and 1347 acres of pine forests and grasslands,
home to deer, prairie dogs, and other animals.
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The Crazy Horse Monument and Memorial

The Crazy Horse Monument is a Native American carving underway in the Black Hills of
South Dakota. Artists have been working on the monument since 1948. If it becomes
completed as planned, it will be the worlds largest sculpture at 641 feet (195 meters)
wide and 563 feet (172 meters) tall.

The monument commemorates Crazy Horse (circa 1840-1887), an Oglala Lakota war
leader who was well-respected by his people. He led victorious battles against many of
his tribes enemies, including (but not limited to) the Blackfoot, Crow, Pawnee,
Shoshone, and US forces.

One famous battle involving US troops was the Battle of the Rosebud in Montana
Territory. In June of 1876, Crazy Horse led a group of 1,500 Lakota and Cheyenne in a
surprise attack against Brevet Brigadier General George Crooks force of US footmen,
cavalry, and Crow and Shoshone warriors. This particular battle was a draw, with the
sides having roughly equivalent losses. However, the battle delayed Crooks troops from
meeting Lieutenant General George Custers troops at the Battle of Little Big Horn. This
contributed to the subsequent Custers Last Stand in which Custer was killed and the
Lakota-Cheyenne alliance emerged as victors.
After decades as a valiant warrior, Crazy Horse finally surrendered to the United States in
May of 1877. His people were weakened by hunger and a cold Nebraska winter. Crazy
Horse and his allies formally surrendered at the Red Cloud Agency, which was a
precursor to Indian reservations. After Crazy Horse had been living on agency property
for a few months, it seems that his words were mistranslated by a US Army scout. An
ensuing argument led to Crazy Horses death by bayonet stabbing on September 5, 1877.
His parents moved his body to an undisclosed location.
The monument was requested by Chief Henry Standing Bear of the Oglala Sioux. In
1939 he wrote to the sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski, who was known for chiseling Mount
Rushmore. His letter included the request, My fellow chiefs and I would like the white
man to know that the red man has great heroes, too. Ziolkowski decided upon Crazy
Horse, and by 1943 the monument was underway. The site: eight miles from Mount
Rushmore, and five miles from Custer. Since the original artists death, the project has
been overseen by his wife Ruth Zioljowski and several of their children.
A milestone in carving was achieved in 1998 when Crazy Horses face was completed.
The next step involves shaping the head of his horse, which is achieved with very precise
explosions of dynamite. The horses head will include ridges to be used as access roads
for trucks hauling rock away.
Progress has been hindered by the projects non-profit status. The Crazy Horse Memorial
Foundation rejects federal funding because they have plans beyond the monument itself.
The sculpture is part of a larger vision for Crazy Horse Memorial, which already includes
an Indian Museum of North America and a Native American Cultural center. The
foundation also aims to establish and fund the University and Medical Training Center
for the North American Indian. The foundations many goals are supported mainly with
proceeds from visitors, who number about one million each year.
Although many people see the mountain carving as a great tribute to Native Americans,
others disapprove. They say that altering nature in this way is contrary to what Crazy
Horse would have wanted.
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Four Faces

There is a hidden treasure in this country. It is a vacation spot that has amazing mountains, lakes for fishing and boating and something very special to top it all off as well. That hidden treasure is tucked in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

For most people, when you think of great sightseeing vacation spots, you might think of New England, California, Florida or Colorado. And too be sure, those are outstanding American sightseeing locations. That is why this hidden treasure is such a gem. The Black Hills provide all of the pleasure of mountain relaxation but without the crowds that you will run into in Colorado or one of the major tourist destinations like Yellowstone. The Black Hills have ample sites for camping, lakes for fishing or boating and trails for hiking so you can commune with nature to your hearts content.

Moreover, you may find the Black Hills to be even more rustic than some of the better known vacation locations. Dont be surprised as you drive along on your way into those beautiful mountains when you find yourself in the middle of a large herd of buffalo or elk roaming free in the wilderness of South Dakota. That kind of face to face contact with wildlife and nature is quite common in these scenic hills.

But of all the hidden treasures that these beautiful hills hide, one magnificent national treasure stands out as a location that every family will want to visit at least once if not many times. And that is the famous Mount Rushmore National Memorial. This memorial to the leaders of this great nation in its first 150 years is famous for its power, its elegance and what it says about greatness in America.

When you first walk out on the visitors center plaza and glimpse these magificent memorials to Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln, your reaction will be typical if you cannot help but say wow. Part of it is the sheer size of these amazing works of art. We, as Americans, are always in awe of the talent that God gives to great artists. But when the outcome of the artistic vision results in a memorial that is the size of a mountain itself, that is a sight that leaves a lasting impression on the heart and on the soul.

We wont give away any secrets but be sure you watch the film that gives the story of the creation of these amazing sculptures of the heads of four of our greatest presidents. With most works of art, we see the skill, talent and effort of one inspired artist working to complete his vision. But when you look at Mount Rushmore, you have to notice that this kind of tremendous work of art could only be the result of the work of an army of workers along with the legislative skills of Congress to approve the project and the tenacity of a team of designers and visionaries to see the project through the many years that Mount Rushmore was in the making.

Many movies have been made at the site of Mount Rushmore and it has been depicted often in photographs and engravings showing the great patriotic locations around the country. Truly, Mount Rushmore ranks right up there with the great statues on the Washington DC mall, the historic sights in Boston or New York or any of the great architectural wonders around this great land of ours.

The simple elegance of those faces will make you want to draw closer than is humanly possible to bond with this art in a greater way. But the park officials are wise to keep the eager crowds back to the observation deck because not only is it possible to get hurt coming too close to these great statues, you really cannot truly appreciate their grandeur and beauty except from a distance of almost a mile away.

As you and your family leave the Mount Rushmore National Monument, you will all have different impressions and inspirations that come from viewing a work of art of this scope and magnitude. Take advance of this moment of quiet reverence to reflect together on how the impact of Mount Rushmore inspires greater patriotism in all of us and a call to great achievement in even the most average of Americans. If that is your inspiration, the creators of the Mount Rushmore memorial will feel like they have done their jobs well.

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