Side Tripping in South Dakota

Having spent two full weeks in the Black Hills and Badlands of South Dakota in the fall of 2015, we decided to pursue some of the other attractions.

 

Pierre, the State Capitol of South Dakota

When we are close to a state capitol, we always try to spend some time touring the capitol buildings and noting some differences and similarities. Entering South Dakota's Capitol Building we immediately noticed some similarity to the capitol building in Helena, Montana. Later we found out that the blue prints from Helena were used with some modification to construct this South Dakota Capitol.

 

The floor throughout the Capitol Building is covered with millions of hand placed mosaic tiles, put down by 66 workers. Each worker was asked to place one unique blue tile somewhere within their handiwork as a sort of signature. These tiles have been lost over the years and only 55 of their locations are known. We did find a couple of them as we walked through the building.

In 1989, the states centennial, the building was restored
to its 1910 splendor.

The dome of the rotunda is 96 feet high.

The Marble Staircase is the centerpiece of the Capitol.

The World War II Memorial presented as
six bronze figures on a peninsula in the Capitol Lake.
Capitol Lake is fed by an artesian hot spring,
maintaining a 92 degree temperature year round.  

Dignity Statue in Chamberlain, South Dakota

This is a fifty foot tall stainless steel sculpture overlooking the Missouri River. Dignity, which is at a rest stop along I-90 near Chamberlain, was dedicated just days before we stopped.

Dignity

She looks beautiful from the front or back,
wrapped in a star quilt.

The Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota

2016 Theme is "Rock of Ages"

The murals are made up of corn, sorghum, wheat & rye.

I-94 Billings and Beyond

We stayed three nights in Billings, Montana, and then took the I-94 branch to North Dakota. We saw a lot of rolling hills and grassland and stopped at some interesting sites along the way.

 

Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Pompeys Pillar is a massive sandstone outcrop that rises from an almost two-acre base on the banks of the Yellowstone River, east of Billings. For many years people used this as a landmark and left inscriptions along their way. One of the most notable visitors, Captain William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, arrived at Pompeys Pillar on July 25, 1806. Captain Clark named the pillar after Sacagawea's son, whom he had nicknamed "Pomp". 

Brand New Visitor's Center

The sandstone pillar stands 150 feet
above the Yellowstone River.

A boardwalk staircase takes you to the top.

This is the only remaining evidence of Captain Clark's
visit to the area.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

We stayed two nights in Medora North Dakota, conveniently located a mile from the entrance to Theodore Roosevelt National Park South Unit. Theodore Roosevelt first visited the Dakota Territory in 1883 to hunt Bison. The following year his wife, Alice, and his mother both died on the same day, February 14, 1884. Overcome with grief, Theodore returned to North Dakota to heal in solitude. He invested in the Maltese Cross Ranch and later started the Elkhorn Ranch.  This remote 70,447 acre national park has a 36 mile Scenic Drive in the South Unit and a 14 mile Scenic Drive in the North Unit. We visited only the South Unit, but may return another time to see the rest of the Park.

Roosevelt's Maltese Cross Cabin

Up to 700 bison are maintained in the herd.

We saw lots and lots of prairie dogs.

The red color of the rock comes from the oxidation of iron
released from an underlying coal layer that burned.

Some of the scenery reminded us of
Badlands National Park in South Dakota.

A local labor force built this old entrance station in 1938.
It was closed in 1968 when I-94 was completed.

Someone made a good find on this old propane truck.

We had a herd of 30 bison join us on a side road.

We seemed to have hit peak fall color.

The Little Missouri River runs through the park.

A Day in Helena, Montana

We stopped for a couple of days at the Riverfront RV Park in Garrison, about 30 miles west of the state capitol, Helena. Helena is a smaller city with a population of about 28,000 but there is much to do here. We left our home early to spend the entire day taking in the sites in this historic city.

Our first stop was Montana's Museum. This museum has an extensive collection of Charles M. Russell's paintings, sculptures and drawings as well as numerous exhibits and artifacts documenting Montana's history.

Montana's Historical Museum

"Big Medicine", a White Bull Bison,
was born and lived on the National Bison Range
from 1933 until his death in 1959.

Late 19th Century Parlor Display

When the Land Belonged to God
by Charles M. Russell

The Roundup
by Charles M. Russell

The State Capitol building is right across the street from the museum. Guided tours are offered every hour, but we opted to tour it on our own. The Capitol building was built in 1899 out of sandstone and Montana granite and topped with Montana copper.

Montana became the 41st state in 1889.

The colorful Rotunda was decorated in the
French Renaissance style.

The Ten Commandments monument stands
on the front lawn.

We took an afternoon tour of the Original Governor's Mansion. This Victorian mansion was home to nine Montana governors from 1914 to 1959.

Built in 1888 by a prominent citizen of Helena

Last Chance Tour Train
We took the very last city tour of the
season.

Cathedral of St. Helena,
completed in 1914

The remarkable stained glass windows were made
in Munich, Germany.

Visiting the Spokane Area

SPOKANE

Spokane was the location of the 1974 World's Fair Expo. Most of the Expo centered around the Riverfront Park, which has flowered and tree lined bike and walking paths. The park is well known for the Riverfront Park Carousel, the clock tower, and The Skyride Over the Falls. While we were at the park, they were setting up for next weeks Chinese Lantern Festival.

Clock Tower Built for Expo '74

 Skyride Over the Falls

Spokane Falls

Flower for the Chinese Lantern Festival

All the exhibits glow at night.

The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist
Built in 1925
Reminds us of the great cathedrals of Europe.

The organ has over 4,000 pipes.
We wished we could have heard it.

KOOTENAI NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

One day we visited Kootenai NWR just west of Bonners Ferry, Idaho. This small, but very beautiful refuge is only about 3,000 acres. We took the five mile auto tour loop and took a hike to Myrtle Creek Falls.

The Kootenay River was like glass
the day we were there.

Trail to the Myrtle Creek Falls

FARRAGUT STATE PARK

We spent a day exploring Farragut State Park located 25 miles north of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. This entire park was originally a U.S. Navy Training Base. Farragut Park is very focused on visitor activities. There are several campgrounds as well as four disc golf courses, a beach and boating on Lake Pend Oreille. There is also a military museum which was originally a U.S. Navy Brig from 1942 - 1946.

Lake Pend Oreille is Idaho's larges lake
and the 4th deepest in the Pacific northwest.

Sailor Statue in front of the Navy Museum at the Brig