Breakfast:
At the Lodge.
Morning:
Mount Rushmore National Monument is much more than four gigantic faces carved out of stone. The sculptor who made it, Gutzon Borglum — a Danish-American — intended it to be not just a memorial to four of our greatest Presidents, but a “shrine of democracy.” Why these four? Washington led the army during the Revolutionary War with Great Britain and later became the first President of the United States. Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence and doubled the size of the country with Louisiana Purchase. Lincoln led the country through the Civil War and saved the Union. Roosevelt developed the “Square Deal” that promoted the conservation movement, controlled corporations, and protected consumers. Abroad, he made the Panama Canal happen and won the Nobel Peace Prize for settling a war between Russia and China. We’ll coach a short distance to see Mount Rushmore from a different angle- on the top of a ridge about two miles away. We’ll ride up on chairlifts (like ski lifts) for amazing panoramic views. Once at the top, we have the opportunity to ride the Alpine Slide on your own, speed controlled sled, back down the hill. If the sled and slide aren't of interest, feel free to catch the chairlift back down. We’ll then return to the Lodge.
Lunch:
At the Lodge.
Afternoon:
Mount Rushmore, with its majestic figures of four Presidents, is an American treasure. But there’s an even bigger monument being created less than 20 miles away. This monumental project uses the image of Crazy Horse — legendary Lakota warrior and leader — to symbolize the culture, traditions, and living heritage of North American Indians. Work started in 1948 and when it’s finished, the Crazy Horse Memorial will be the largest mountain carving in the world. We’ll visit the Memorial to learn all about it and explore the Native American Educational & Cultural center there. We’ll have breathtaking views of the carving and surrounding landscape, see pictures of Native Americans from long ago, and an exhibit carved out of rock that tells the story of the bison (buffalo) and how important they were. We’ll take part in a hands-on art activity led by museum educators, then return to the Lodge.
Dinner:
At the Lodge.
Evening:
We’ll gather around a campfire with our Group Leader for a hands-on lesson about how Native Americans utilized all parts of a bison. We’ll also take this opportunity to roast marshmallows, make S’mores, and share stories around the campfire. We’ll then coach a short distance back to Mount Rushmore and attend the Lighting Ceremony, a patriotic event in the open-air auditorium.