Andrew Acomb

I love being in a place where it is so quiet, all you can hear is the earth crunching under your feet.

After checking out of our hotel, we bought a few souvenirs from Wall Drug. We then drove through the Badlands National Park on Highway 240 also known as the Badlands Loop. Just like last time we were here, we stopped at many of the look outs to take in the views. This was our last stop before leaving South Dakota. Next state, Wyoming.

After exploring Wind Cave National Park, we headed north towards the Crazy Horse Memorial. Every time we pass through South Dakota, we make it a point to stop here. It’s an incredible undertaking. To get an idea of it’s size, you can fit the 4 faces of Mount Rushmore inside Crazy Horse’s head alone. The visitor center is filled with portraits, artifacts, stories and great quotes. If you go, be sure to watch the 20 minute video on the history of the memorial.

“They made many promises, more than I can remember – they never kept but one; They promised to take our land, and they took it.” – Red Cloud

When asked “Where are your lands now?” Crazy Horse pointed out and said: “My lands are where my dead lie buried.“

We ended up staying there until after dark. On the way out, we heard about their laser light show. Now, I’ve only been to one laser show before this one and it ended up being really cheesy.

This one was different. The music was great, and the program told the story of Korczak Ziolkowski, Crazy Horse, and the mountain through music, words, lasers, and slides. I was impressed.

Korczak Ziolkowski was born exactly 31 years to the day after Crazy Horse died on September 6th, 1877. Many thought this to be an omen and that he was destined to do this. After he won first prize at the 1939 world’s fair with his marble sculpture of Ignacy Jan Paderewski, he was contacted by a Lakota chief.

“Then I got a letter from this Old Indian I never met before, Standing Bear, and he asked if I would build a memorial to their people so the white people know that the red man had great heroes also.“

He started the project with just $174. It was enough to get a few tools, some dynamite and an air compressor affectionately called the “Old Buda”. He moved out to the wilderness and began the project alone in 1948. He had to build a place to live and even a ladder to get up the side of the mountain. The ladder had exactly 741 steps. Sometimes he had to travel up and down the ladder numerous times throughout the day because the “Old Buda” would die on him.

“Ka-putta! Ka-putta! Ka-Putt!“

Much of what is done today was done by him alone! Over the course of his work, he married and had 10 children: 5 boys and 5 girls. Today, his wife and seven of their children still work on the mountain.

The project is funding completely by donations and visitor fees. They even turned down 2 grants from the federal government for $10 million a piece. He believed that if the public accepted the goals of the Crazy Horse Memorial, they would support it. He believed in free enterprise and initiative. He wanted to ensure that the long range goals of the memorial would not be tainted.

Much can be learned from a man like this. He had a vision. To some, his dream would seem impossible. He didn’t. He believed in himself. One man changing the face of the earth with his bare hands.

“Why can’t it be completed? … It took 300,000 slaves 20 years in order to build one pyramid, and you can put 5 pyramids in this mountain. I guess what you gotta have, I guess, is a couple of more dreamers like me.“

Try standing in front of this mountain and imagine what it must of felt like looking at it before he started. It’s a physical reminder that absolutely anything is possible if you set your mind to it. It doesn’t take an army to change the world. It takes only one.

“When the legends die, the dreams end, and when the dreams end, there is no more greatness.“

When I imagine what a cave looks like, I think of stalagmites and stalactites. Wind Cave National Park is different. It’s full of this stuff called boxwork. I have never seen anything like it until I visited Wind Cave. Scientists have a few theories about how it is formed, but ultimately it still remains a mystery.

After a scenic drive through Custer State Park, we arrived at the Wind Cave National Park. It’s the world’s fourth largest cave. They estimate that only about 25% of the actual cave has been explored. So it has the potential to be the largest. It is known for containing the most boxwork out of any known cave in the world. It is also the most complex 3D rectilinear maze cave in the world.

They have a variety of guided tours available. We chose the Fairgrounds Cave Tour because you get to see more of the cave on this one than any other. At one point in the tour, our guide turned off the lights. She then lit a candle to show us how one of the first explorers, Alvin McDonald saw the cave. Wow!

If your really feeling adventurous, you can take the Candlelight Tour of Wind Cave. This strenuous two hour tour covers about a mile of rugged trail in a less developed, unlighted area of the cave. Each participant carries a candle bucket to illuminate the cave just like the early explorers. Next time we are going to try this one.

The other tour that sounded fun was the Wild Cave Tour. This 4 hour tour introduces people to basic, safe caving techniques. Participants get to explore the cave away from developed trails. If you go on this tour, wear old clothes and gloves, as much of the trip will be crawling! Jennifer really wants to go on this one!

While passing through the Badlands in South Dakota, I was promoted. Watch out! There’s a new sheriff in town!

After passing hundreds of signs on Interstate 90, we finally got to Wall Drug in Wall, South Dakota. I think the first sign we saw was over 350 miles away! I guess that’s nothing compared to the Wall Drug sign at the South Pole.