Nowhere else in the United States will you find an area so steeped in the folklore, art, mystique, and lore of the Old West that, the moment you arrive, your mind can’t help but throw off the illusion of pseudo-happiness. gleaned from modern conveniences and begin to absorb the reality of what life was really like for our 19th century ancestors.
This was life at its rawest and only the toughest, thickest-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 each moment to the fullest, constantly testing your mettle and facing your problems head-on in an environment ready to chew up and spit out the weak. These people were forged in steel, beaten relentlessly by an unforgiving earth, and instilled with a strength, strength, and genuine happiness that you and I can only imagine.
Ranked 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 stay on the ground to feed the vultures. Could he stare at some petty curse word and make it walk off with its tail between its legs? I bet he could, if he had the intention of leaving himself.
This is the town where notorious gunslinger and lawman James “Wild Bill” Hickok was gunned down 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 birth mother of this bustling town, and where gold goes, so does violence and corruption. Running through a treacherous ravine filled 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 all corners of the country, eager to get their own share of the prize. It was not uncommon for territorial disputes to be resolved by gunfire.
Tourists can still walk through the Broken Boot underground gold mine and see the veins plundered by miners more than a century ago. You can even pan for gold if that’s to your liking. And, following its gaming tradition, several historical game rooms are available where you can try your luck in 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 grander magnitude, 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 dynamite blasting and carving began in 1927 and ended (due to lack of federal funding) in 1941, totaling fourteen years of grueling and exhausting work, along with several tragic and dramatic deaths that are par for the course in this guy. of transcendental company. This writer’s first job after graduating high school was working at 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 of the top of the sculpture. Here I was allowed to stand on the precipice of Jefferson’s head and, for the first time, fully comprehend what it must have been like to be dangling in the air with a hammer and chisel, a few feet of wispy rope securing him 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 Oglala Lakota chief Crazy Horse (still in its infancy) is a tribute to the unwavering spirit of Native Americans in the face of incredible adversity. Along with the sculpture itself, there is an impressive Indian Museum of North American History, displaying artifacts from Native American nations across the United States.
Travel southwest of Rapid City to Custer and you will 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 is also home to the most impressive collection on the planet. of dog tooth, nail head and calcite spar crystals; hence the name Cueva de la Joya. The tour is half a mile long, returning after a ninety-minute jaunt to its pristine depths.
These are just a few sights and activities to get you involved in on your travels through the Black Hills of South Dakota. So, cowboy up! and get ready for an incredible historical journey to this country’s number one Old West vacation destination. And remember: keep your gunpowder dry, mate.
