Pintus Journeys: September 2009

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

7/1/09 - Reptile Gardens

Reptile Gardens is one of America's top 10 roadside attractions. They have the world's largest reptile collection and over 50,000 flowers and tropical orchids. This was a snake show that we started the day with.

Our second show was the alligator/crocodile show. There were 15-20 in this same area that the guy did the show from.

After the show they walked around with this baby and let everyone touch it.

The eagle is so majestic....we never tire of taking photos of them.

There were some beautiful flowers here.....especially the orchids!

They have some really HUGE turtles here. When we were here in the 70's they let the kids ride on the turtles....but not anymore.

6/30/09 - Crazy Horse Memorial

A fifth granite face is emerging in the Black Hills. The colossal Crazy Horse mountain carving, now in progress, can be seen just 17 miles from Mount Rushmore. Sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski started the work on the mountain in 1948 as a tribute to Native Americans. His family continues to carve Crazy Horse. When complete, it will be the world'd largest mountain carving, standing 563 feet high and 641 feet long.

Crazy Horse

Crazy Horse was born on Rapid Creek in the Black Hills of South Dakota in about 1842. While at Fort Robinson, Nebraska, under a flag of truce, he was stabbed in the back, by an American soldier and died September 6, 1877 - age 35. "My lands are where by dead lie buried" Crazy Horse.

Justin checking out the teepee in the museum.

6/30/09 - Mount Rushmore National Memorial

This mountain carving features the 60-foot faces of four great American presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Work on the sculpture began in 1927 when sculptor Gutzon Borglum was 60. Work ended 14 years later at his death. Each evening in the summer in the 2,500-seat Amphitheater there is a program beginning at 9:00 and culminates in the lighting of the memorial.

This was a good photo op....had to take advantage of it.

Rachel and Justin being sworn in as Junior Rangers at Mount Rushmore.

6/30/09 - Bear Country U.S.A.

Bear Country an exciting and unique drive-thru wildlife park with bears, buffalo, wolves, elk and 25 different species of North American animals. It is home to over 200 different animals on over 200 acres of Black Hills scenic beauty.