This past week we went on a family trip. It started out as work. I had to spend 2 days in Mitchel, SD at a vendor facility for my job. The family decided to come along. My wife loves tourist traps. We picked up some "numismatic" items although most of them came from museums and/or gift shops. Mitchel is known for the Corn Palace. The world's only one, you are constantly reminded. They had both penny and quarter press machines. The below items were picked up at other locations along the way. Wall Drug, Badlands, Mount Rushmore. The day we were at Mount Rushmore it was 34 degrees with exceedingly high winds. We were miserable since we didn't pack our winter clothes for the spring trip. It would have been ok without the wind. Our plan had been to do some hiking, but it was just too cold for us. The transportation tokens were from an antique store in Le Claire, Iowa. We walked around for about an hour. I don't like leaving without purchasing something. The best stop for numismatic material was the newish Crazy Horse monument which is near Mount Rushmore. It is still in the early days of construction even though it has been in the works since the 1940's. This picture shows a scale model with the mountain in the background. It almost looks like the model is pointing at his face on the mountain. In the museum there was 1 numismatic display. In addition, there was this display: The metallic discs caught my attention. They look similar to some Arabic coins, in my opinion. We really enjoyed the drive through the badlands. You just can't appreciate it without being there. My wife and I are already talking about a return trip when temperatures are a little better. Mount Rushmore was a disappointment but that was due to our own lack of planning. We want to spend more time in the badlands as well.
Thank you. I couldn't remember what movie that was in. I have been racking my brain for several days.
That’s a great vacation. I wouldn’t call the Corn Palace a tourist trap as it’s very nice. I’ve been twice to everyplace you mentioned and you need to go back when it’s warmer. You are in the Rockies so temperature changes can occur in hours up to 80*. I used to live in Montana and it does happen. They have made headway on the Crazy Horse Monument since I was last there. Glad you had a great time and hopefully you’ll be able to go again soon.
I wasn't referring to the Corn Palace specifically. My wife just loves museum gift shops and other locations created for tourists.
Gotcha. I found western S. Dakota to be of particular interest. A small mountain divides the town of Rapid City. The industrial part on one side and the business and residential on the other. Going up the mountain was about 6 metal dinosaurs, which my kids loved. That large Brontosaurus at the exit growled at my son which sent him back to me in tears. The story of Wall Drug is fascinating. So we’re the signs across the entire state for ads for them. Loved the cowboy bands and the prairie dogs in them. I would love to go back.
I will be camping up by Mount Rushmore in about 2 weeks. My Fiancée has never been. Hopefully it's warmer by then.
