During our stay in St. Regis, we played a round of golf at Trestle Creek Golf Club. It is a 9-hole course with two sets of tee’s so you get a different look when you play a full 18-holes. 
The course was is excellent shape, with very fast greens.
And the weather was perfect, as was the scenery!
We also stopped at the Ghost Town set up at the RV park for a couple photo-ops …
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Today we arrived in Deer Lodge, Montana where we toured the Old Prison Museums – a collection of several museums along Main Street.
1912 Cell House
The Old Montana Prison which was estabilished in 1871. Constructed primarily with convict labor, it was an active prison until 1979.
Rod with one of his friends
1910 Humpmobile
The Montana Auto Museum, with over 120 cars on display.
1967 Amphibious Car
God created Man, but Colt made him equal!
The Frontier Montana Museum, which has a large collection of handguns, spurs, chaps and cowboy collectibles.
The Powell County Museum, which houses unusual weapons form WWI & II, along with frontier era guns, muskets and much more.
Bellied-up to the bar ...
Desert John’s Saloon Museum, which includes an 1800’s era bar shipped up the Missouri River, and shelves filled with early whiskey bottles, flasks and mementos dating back to 1868.
The Doll and Toy Museum, which contains a large collection of not only dolls, but also doll cariages, prams, furniture, dishes and accessories, dating back to 1835, They also have a collection of toy trains.
Yum !!!
We finished the day at the Old Fashioned Ice Cream Shop!
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We took a trip to Sturgis, SD where we visited the Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame. Although small, it contained many bikes, not just Harley’s, dating back to 1905. Not really sure about the “hall of fame” part, but it ws an interesting place to stop.
1949 Sundance
1925 Henderson
1999 Excelsior Henderson ~ Invested 100 Million Dollars to produce only 1851 Bikes!
The town of Sturgis was already starting to gear up for the 2010 Motorcycle Rally, which will take place Aug. 9-15.
Also, along main street, they have several statues, which were kind of interesting.
From Sturgis, we headed for Deadwood via Spearfish Canyon. A beautiful drive through a canyon filled with trees, rocks and waterfalls.
Deadwood is definately a tourist-trap … It is filled with small casinos (yeah, Lori helped out the economy) and re-enacts gun fights on Main Street several times a day.
While in Deadwood, we went to Boot Hill (Mt. Moriah Cemetery) where we viewed the graves of James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok and Martha “Calamity Jane” Canary.
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What can I say about Mount Rushmore, one of the most iconic symbols of America … Well, I’ll try to tell you a few things that you may not already know.
The figure of Thomas Jefferson was started on Washington’s right, but after 18 months of carving the figure of Jefferson, it had to be dynamited off the mountain (because there was insufficient rock) and restarted on the left of Washington.
Mount Rushmore, was named for Charles E. Rushmore, a New York City Attorney.
And finally, Lori’s Great Uncle Henry Goettsch, worked on the Mount Rushmore Memorial sometime between 1927 and 1941. (Now I know that you didn’t know that)!
Our next stop was at the Crazy Horse Memorial.
The world’s largest mountain carving, which was started in 1948 to honor the great Indian hero. Upon completion, it will be almost 3 times larger than Mount Rushmore.
(◄ Rod in front of the 1/34th scale model with the mountain being sculpted in the background)
When finished, the monument will measure 563 ft. high and 651 ft. long (his head alone is 87.5 ft. high).
If you look closely, you will see the painted outline of the horse’s head, which will measure 219 ft. high, the ear 45 ft. high, and the 16 ft. wide, eye.
The entire project is financed through a 501(c)3 foundation and without any government money.
Twice the sculptor, Korczak Ziolkowski turned down offers of federal funding, and since his death in 1982, his family continues the work and continues to refuse government funding.
Next, we headed for Custer State Park, where we drove the Wildlife Loop Road as well as several smaller roads, on the lookout for the bison, deer, mountain goats, elk, coyotes, bighorn sheep, pronghorns, prairie dogs, burros and mountain lions that are supposedly there.
We saw several pronghorns.
Many burro’s (aka donkeys)
(Once again, Democrats looking for a hand-out)!
A few prairie dogs.
And we finally got a glimpse of the (elusive) bison.
After driving all around the park looking for these huge creatures, we finally spotted this group, way out in a field that we were not allowed to drive out to (although the park sponsored Safari Jeep Tours which cost between $38 & $115, were out there).
◄ Here is the picture you see in all the ads and brochures (the bison, roaming the streets) and what I was expecting to see.
Oh well, it was a nice drive in some really pretty country.
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We got into our RV spot just west of Rapid City late yesterday afternoon (after our stops at 1880 Town & Wall Drug) and a slight mishap with our GPS, which tried to send us to this field out in the middle of nowhere, instead of to the RV park.
When it directed us up a narrow dirt road, we knew something was not quite right! Well, after traveling almost 6,000 miles, with no other problems, guess we can’t complain … just don’t let it happen again!
Anyway, today we headed for downtown Rapid City, to check out the Presidential Statues and the Historic District.
When we arrived, we found that they were having a Firefighter Combat Challenge. From their website they explain the challenge as follows:
“The Challenge seeks to encourage firefighter fitness and demonstrate the profession’s rigors to the public. Wearing “full bunker gear” and the SCOTT Air-Pak breathing apparatus, pairs of competitors race head-to-head as they simulate the physical demands of real-life firefighting by performing a linked series of five tasks including climbing the 5-story tower, hoisting, chopping, dragging hoses and rescuing a life-sized, 175 lb. “victim” as they race against themselves, their opponent and the clock.”
After watching the firefighter challenge for a while, we walked through the Presidential Statues which line Main and St. Joseph Streets in downtown.
They have 39 of the 42 Presidents immortalized in brass on the street corners. (They don’t have Clinton, GW Bush or Obama yet).
We had a good time walking around and taking pictures with a few of them.
Unfortunately, it was Sunday afternoon and there wasn’t much open, so we just “window shopped” between the statues.
There was also a Ford Model T tour going through town.
And we saw many of the beautifully restored autos driving through.
As well as parked here and there.
Next we drove through the historic homes section of Rapid City, on our way to The Chapel in the Hills.
It is an exact replica of the famous 850 year-old Borgund Stavkirke located in Lasrdal, Norway.
The construction and craftsmanship of this stave church is just incredible.
There is also a Stabbur, which is an authentic grass-roofed house, which was built in Norway and assembled on this site.
Also on the grounds is an log cabin, turned museum. Built by Edward “Ole” Nielsen, a Norwegian prospector who came to the Black Hills during the gold rush, for he and his wife Lena.
It houses articles brought over from Norway or made by Scandinavians in this country during the 1800’s.
And that brings to an end, another day on our wonderful journey …
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Our first stop, 1880 Town, is just 22 miles west of Murdo.
It is a collection of over 30 buildings (circa 1880 to 1920) which have been rescued and moved to this location and set up as an 1880’s town, complete with wooden sidewalks.
Each building houses collectables and artifacts reflecting the times.
Many of which are set up with tableaux’s showing how they would have looked at the time.
(And yes, Rod does know how to iron, although he hasn’t done it for almost 30 years.)
While there we had a root beer while watching the McNasty Brothers Music & Comedy show at the Longhorn Saloon.
They also have quite a collection of props from the movie “Dances with Wolves”, a museum containing a collection of artifacts from the General Custer period, and another containing items from Buffalo Bill and Casey Tibbs, 19-time World Champion Rodeo Cowboy.
After “doin’ the town”, we continued west and our next stop was Wall Drug.
What can I say about it … It’s a souvenir shop on steroids! We did have a good time walking around and (trying to) take it all in.
It is huge, and full of both things and people. They sell everything from a pack of gum to fine art to cowboy boots to jewelry to … well you name it, they probably sell it.
Mixed in with all of the merchandise, are trophy mounts, photographs, animated figures, and so much more.
They also have an area that they call “the backyard”, which is full of photo op’s just waiting to be taken advantage of, so I did!
The only thing I forgot to do, was pick up my free Wall Drug bumper stickers.
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Today we left Mitchell and headed to Murdo, SD. Along the way we stopped in Kimball because they advertised a Tractor Museum.
Well, it was lunch time so we pulled in to Doo Wah Ditty’s Diner. Where Rod had a Chili Burger & I had a Grilled Onion & Mushroom Burger …
Then off to the South Dakota Tractor Museum. Not only did they have tractors, but also buggys, cars, farm and horse machinery.
There was early settler paraphernalia such as a wood burning kitchen cook stove complete with pots and pans, an old pump organ, numerous old musical instruments, children’s toys, hog oilers, and this Maytag washer.
They also had a one-room school house and 1893 church.
The tour was made especially interesting because our guide was a 70-something year-old woman who taught in a one-room school house after graduating from high school and getting a whole 10-weeks of training. She also lived on a farm without running water until 1980.
Then we headed on down the road to our destination for the night, Murdo, SD.
Once we were settled in Murdo, it was time to go to the Pioneer Auto Show and Antique Town.
Rod with Daisy Duke and the General Lee
1913 Electric Car
They have over 275 cars, 60 antique tractors and farm equipment, 60 motorcycles and bikes.
1938 Cord ~ This one's for you Mom
Two-headed calf
The Princess and The King
You could easily spend a whole day here … but make sure its a cool day and bring some drinking water. It was 93° and humid while we were here, so after a couple hours … we were done!
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Today we started by visiting the Dakota Discovery Museum. 
When you walk in to the Middle Border History Gallery you are greeted by a brain-tanned buffalo hide Tipi, followed by quite a collection of indian bead and quill work.
They also have a recreated Claims Shack to show what life was like following the Homestead Act of 1862.
(Note: The above pictures were pulled off the internet, because they do not allow you to take pictures in the Middle Border History Gallery or the Art Galleries)
Parlor in the Beckwith Home
Then on to a tour of the Beckwith House which was built in 1886 for Louis and Mary Beckwith, co-founders of the original Corn Palace.
The Farwell Church, which was built in 1908. The Dimock Depot which was built along the railroad in 1914, and the one-room Sheldon School, constructed in 1884.
Rod on a 1928 McCormick-Deering Tractor
They also had a display of old farm equipment, so of course Rod couldn’t resist hopping on the 1928 McCormick-Deering (the company later re-named International Harvester Co.) tractor.
Rod Ringing the School Bell
Lori "On the Wagon" with Beckwith House in background
Our next stop was The Corn Palace where they are currently replacing the rye and sourdock. The exterior border trim and murals are replaced every year. All of this work is done by hand, in quite a delicate and detailed process.
The building was open today, so we went in and watched the movie about it’s history and then took the “Mural tour”.
Not only are their corn murals on the exterior of the building, but also inside.
The grow 12 shades of colored corn, planted in separate fields to maintain color purity. Then the best ears are hand-picked. Each ear of corn is sawed in half, shaped and trimmed to fit the design, and nailed into place. It takes roughly 275,000 ears of corn just to decorate the outside murals each year.
Next, we drove around Lake Mitchell and stopped at the Lakeview Golf Course. Although it was too late in the day to play, Rod wanted to check it out (they too have a Monday/Tuesday $20 p/p special).
We also drove through the Lake Mitchell campground, where it looks like they have two sites that our rig would fit in and have great views of the lake. Finally we stopped at the Prehistoric Indian Village/Archeodome, but it was getting too late in the day to tour.
There is also the McGovern Legacy Museum and the Carnegie Resource Center, that we didn’t have time to visit ~ guess we’ll just have to make another trip to Mitchell, SD.
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Aunt Joy with Lori
As soon as we got into town, we went to see “Aunt Joy”. She is Lori’s grandmother’s younger sister – she’s only 93!
We had a wonderful visit and then went back to the motorhome where we met up with Lori’s second cousin Pat (Lori’s mother’s, aunt’s, daughter) and her husband, George.
As none of us had met before, we had a lot of catching up to do, which took us from dinner, through a tour of Cabela’s sporting goods store, a drive by the Corn Palace (it was closed for the evening by the time we got there), out to Lake Mitchell, and then to their home.
Our evening with them actually lasted until the wee hours of the morning. Of course, I did manage to take a few pictures along the way…
One of the many animal displays
Cabela’s has 100’s of trophy mounts as well as animal displays and a 10,000 gallon aquarium showcasing fish native to the Missouri River, which runs through South Dakota.
Just a few of the Trophy Mounts in the store
Rod, Lori, Pat & George in front of The Corn Palace
The Mitchell Corn Palace which is a civic center in downtown Mitchell, decorated with corn, rye and sourdock. They are in the process right now of cutting, bundling and attaching the rye and sourdock for the 2010/2011 season.
Don't know why it says 2011
The theme for the murals on the Corn Palace this year is “Through the Ages”, depicting various modes of transportation and travel.
(Hey Art & Mary ~ That’s a person on a segway in the left panel).
More about our time in Mitchell tomorrow!
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There isn’t much in Adrian, MN. A post office, small grocery store, gas station, hardware store and 2 bar/restaurant combos, but with a population of just over 1,200 people – what can you expect?
Well, come to find out they have a terrific golf course. Adrian Country Club – $20 per person with a cart for as much golf as you want to play (on Mondays & Tuesdays)!
At that price we were suprised to find that it was such a beautiful course and in excellent condition, with some of the smoothest (and fastest) greens we have ever played!
On top of that, we had the course almost to ourselves, so it was a very relaxing day.
We’ll definately play this course again, if we are in the area.
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Our 2010 Travel Blog 