Custer, SD Pt II

I left some photos out of the previous days post since it was so long and I didn't want to bore you too much.  We did start to visit the Chief Crazy Horse memorial but it looked like not much has changed on the project for the past couple years. 

A sculptor was selected and work began on the memorial in 1948 and work progressed nicely for a while.  Then some in fighting between Lakota tribe members slowed down the project.  I don't want to go into all the issues, but a google search explains what has transpired over the years.

 Note the drawing on the lower right side of the memorial in the picture below.  It helps outline what the finished product will look like if it is ever finished.

 We came across a small herd of Long Horn steers on our way to Custer, SD.  The horns look they could be a dangerous weapon if the steers ever decided to take on a person.

A few years ago the town of Custer had a number of buffalo sculptures created by a resident.  He wound up making somewhere between 12-15 of the buffalo and we found a few of them on main street there.  They look life like except they aren't painted the colors of buffalo. 

All this touring made us hungry and since we were in the park, we decided to try out the State Game Lodge.  As we pulled into the parking lot the executive chef was walking outside and I asked him if the food was any good there.  He had a shocked look on his face and then said it was great.  I think he didn't realize I was putting him on.  We chatted for a while and then went inside to eat.  

 The State Game Lodge is a gracious native stone and wood lodge built in 1920 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It served as the “Summer White House” for President Calvin Coolidge in 1927 and was visited by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953.

 We only visited the dining room and didn't have time to look over the lodge.  What we did see was very elegant and well done.  The etched glass of an elk and buffalo behind us in the dining room was very well done.

Dale, Debbie, Gerry and me

 We all enjoyed our meals very much and Gerry had a super smoked salmon pasta with a dill &Parmesan sauce.  She even let me taste it and I regretted not ordering it.  Next time!

I covered our trip in yesterday's blog, but wanted to add in these unrelated things.  We all thought the trip thru Custer SP was the highlight of our stay in the area.