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Tag Archives: Theodore Roosevelt

Mount Rushmore, An Artistic and Architectural Phenomenon

18 August 201821 September 2024

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For reasons I can’t explain, I’ve had a crazy fascination for Mount Rushmore National Memorial.  I suppose it started in the eighth grade in Mr. Harness’ American history class, and from that point forward I had hoped to visit there someday.  Growing up in the Midwest, over 25 hours away from the national memorial, I came to realize that if I was going to have a chance to see Mount Rushmore, I would need to plan a Western US vacation and add the monument to my itinerary. This year was the year to make that voyage.

With two weeks of vacation, I finally booked the trip not only to visit patriotic Mount Rushmore but to also include several national parks and interesting sites along the way.  My dream was finally coming true.

Mount Rushmore is an American icon…a symbol of our country’s progress and freedom. It is a perfect representation of  the most influential presidents of the United States….four Presidents who have made enormous contributions to the land of the free.

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First, there is George Washington, the first President, who is credited for the founding of the United States.  Thomas Jefferson, a principal author of the Declaration of Independence, was President from 1801 to 1809.  Serving as the 26th President of the United States was Theodore Roosevelt who was instrumental in establishing the National Park System and preserving the nation’s natural resources.  Finally, Abraham Lincoln, who abolishing slavery, signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.

Passing through the visitor’s center, the pavilion is flanked by flags from each of the states, so I began my search looking for California, Florida, North Carolina and Ohio, the states where I have lived for some time in my life.   From here, I can see the faces of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln.

When Gutzon Borglum was asked to design a monument to draw tourists to the state of South Dakota, Borglum decided on creating the likeness of each Presidential Great.  While Lewis and Clark and Buffalo Bill Cody were other options, Borglum insisted that the monument should represent the nation as a whole.  It was from this decision, the idea of Mount Rushmore was born.

With years of substantial commitment and determination, Mount Rushmore was finally completed after fourteen long years and unveiled to the public in 1941.  The work of Gutzon Borglum, continues to amaze as one of the most fascinating engineering marvels of all time, viewed by millions of visitors each year.

The sight of Mount Rushmore, towering over the Black Hills, left me in awe and inspired to continue our pursuit of equality and help protect our national parks.   I finally managed to explore the one monument that had fascinated me all of these years.

Have you had the opportunity to visit Mount Rushmore?  Did you too feel a sense of patriotism and were you inspired by the monument?  I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Many thanks for taking a step back in time with me at Mount Rushmore and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Mount Rushmore National Memorial
13000 SD-244
Keystone, SD  57751
Telephone:  605 574 2523

  • Admission Fee:   There is no entrance fee for Mount Rushmore National Monument, but parking fees are required:  cars, motorcycles and RVs:  $10 per vehicle, $5 for Seniors (62 and older) and Free for Active Duty Military;
  • Hours:  Open daily from 5AM to 11:30PM
  • Amenities:  Hiking trail, ranger programs, audio tour and Evening Light Ceremony.
  • Scenic View:  The platform provides a beautiful view of Mount Rushmore.
  • Length of Visit:  1 – 2 hours
  • Tips for Your Visit:  There are several things to do at the park to learn more about Mount Rushmore.  You won’t want to miss the Evening Light Ceremony which takes place at sunset to 9:00 PM.   You can attend a ranger talk or opt to take the audio tour at your own leisure.  A visit to the Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center will provide you with a film and exhibits.  The Presidential Trail is just over a half a mile long and allows you a closer view of this amazing sculpture.

Where to Stay:

Country Inn & Suites
2321 N. Lacrosse Street
Rapid City, SD  57701
Telephone:  866 522 8891

Where to Eat:

Carver’s Cafe
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
13000 South Dakota 244
Keystone, SD  57751
Telephone:  605 574 2515

What to Eat: 

  • Buffalo:  A meat substitute for beef which is much healthier to eat.
  • Chokecherries are a Native American cherry that is made into jam, preserves, butter, wine, jelly and sauce.  Wojapi is a chokecherry sauce.
  • Dakota Martini is made of three-fourths beer and one-fourth tomato juice
  • Fleisch Kuchele is a meat pie originating from Germans who lived in Russia.  The dough is filled with meat and onions, then deep fried until the pastry is hot and flaky.
  • Hot Beef Commercial, also known as hot beef sandwich, beef combination, hot beef combo and hot beef combination.  This is a sandwich made of real mashed potatoes and chunks of seasoned roast beef sandwiched between two pieces of white bread and smothered with homemade gravy until it floods the plate.
  • Indian Fry Bread is the state bread of South Dakota, a recipe of the local Indians.
  • Indian Tacos are made with a specially spiced beef and beans, cheese, lettuce, sour cream, tomatoes, onion, black olives and house made picante sauce on the top.
  • Kolache is an amazing Czech dessert made from pastry and filled with fruit filling such as apple, cherry, lemon, apricot, prune and strawberry.
  • Kuchen is German for cake and in South Dakota, visitors can enjoy this pastry filled with custard and fruit.
  • Lefse is a flat potato bread coming from Norwegian-American origin and served with butter
  • Mocha Cakes, also known as Blarney stones, are square or rectangular blocks of light and airy white cake.  Frosted on all sides with vanilla buttercream, they are rolled in lightly salted crushed peanuts for ideal flavor and texture.
  • Pasties are savory hand pies.
  • Tiger Meat is South Dakota’s answer to steak tartare.
  • Wasna is a buffalo and berry dish passed down by the Lakota Indians.
  • Zebra Donuts are marbled chocolate and vanilla donuts that is fried, dunked in sweet glaze and hand-dipped in homemade chocolate frosting which feeds 15.

What to Read: 

  • The Mystery at Mount Rushmore, by Carole Marsh
  • The Carving of Mount Rushmore, by Rex Smith
  • Great White Fathers, by John Taliaferro
  • Face to Face with Mount Rushmore, Jean L.S. Patrick
  • Mount Rushmore:  The History and Legacy of America’s Most Unique Monument, by Charles River Editors

Photo Guide for Mount Rushmore, South Dakota: 

  • Use a telephoto lens.
  • Include impersonators with your photos
  • Hike the path around the monument
  • Take your photo during the golden hour
  • Photograph Mount Rushmore on the Iron Mountain Trail through the cave entrance which frames the monument.
  • Photograph George Washington’s profile just past the entrance of the national monument.
  • Photograph Mount Rushmore  from Mountain View Cemetery.
  • Book a helicopter tour for an aerial shot of Mount Rushmore.

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Politics, Theaters and Automobiles: Springfield, Ohio’s Rich History!

5 February 201716 September 2024

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After filling up on a hearty lunch, I returned to the Clark County Heritage Center in Springfield.  With so much history, I began my second session to cover the time period beginning in the 1900s up until the 1970s where the museum’s information about Clark County and Springfield ends.

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In the early 1900s,  Springfield, Ohio’s population was close to 60,000.  To celebrate their centennial in 1901 the city hosted Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show, a traveling performance which featured Greenville, Ohio native, Annie Oakley.  During this time, advances in transportation, farming equipment and entertainment made Springfield a popular location to live and visit.

Theodore Roosevelt was the President of the United States at this time and nearby Dayton residents, Wilbur and Orville Wright piloted the first airplane at Kitty Hawk.

By winter of 1903, three major fires claimed three lives in Springfield and destroyed an entire city block.

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Sully Jaymes was Springfield’s only African American attorney who represented the underprivileged African Americans.  A graduate of Boston University and the University of Michigan, Jaymes practiced law for over 50 years until his death in 1950.

In 1905, Gus Sun opened a vaudeville theater and booking agency in Springfield.  During this time, architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed and built a home for car magnate, Burton J. Westcott.

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By 1904, the Boys and Girls club was founded by AB Graham, which is known today as the 4H Club.  This agricultural organization teaches school-aged children about “farming techniques and home management”.  During the same year, International Harvester opened up a plant in Springfield to make trucks, bringing in a large number of jobs to the area.

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During Taft’s presidency, the Chakeres brothers open the city’s first movie theater in 1908 which would eventually lead to a total of eight movie houses around town.  The cost to see a move was only 50 cents back then  Following William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson takes office and the US enters into World War I.  Westcott Motor Car Company begins producing “The Westcott” between the years 1916 and 1926.  It would be the only automobile that would be manufactured in Springfield, rumored that the city lost the bid to Detroit for producing cars for the Ford Motor Company.   As Ohio braces for the Depression Era, racial tensions rise as riots break out among Springfield residents.  The Ohio National Guard is called in to preserve order.

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A very controversial event took place in Springfield in 1923 when the Klu Klux Klan held a rally at the fairgrounds.  These horrific, racially charged events were being held all over the nation in the 1920s, even in our nation’s capitol of Washington DC.

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Even in the midst of these thorny racial relationships of just a year ago, the city of Springfield is named the “Rose City” due to its large production of roses.

Amidst the Great Depression, George Rogers Clark Park is established in 1930 near Buck Creek with a reenactment of the Battle of Piqua taking place here to commemorate its 150th anniversary.  The opening of Cliff Park soon follows in 1932.

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Chakeres Theaters gain world wide recognition opening theaters across Ohio in the 1930s and the first service station, Bonded Oil, is built in Urbana.  As Springfield reaches the end of the 30’s World War II breaks out and the US comes to the aid of its allies after the Pearl Harbor bombing in 1941. Three Springfielders died in the attack and by 1943, Wittenberg University is set up to train Air Force Cadets to assist in the war efforts.

After World War II, the soldiers return home and only four years later the Korean War breaks out.  The Clark County Fair, first opened in 1854, moves to a larger space taking over the old Springfield Airport in 1947.  With an increase in population, Mercy Hospital opens in 1950 with the help of philanthropist Joseph Shouvlin.  There were currently 111,661 residents in Springfield at that time.

Eisenhower’s presidency would be the start of the Civil Rights movement and would continue as John F. Kennedy is sworn into office in 1960.  It was a victory for local African Americans when Robert C. Henry was the first black man elected to the Springfield City Commission and later becomes Mayor in 1966.    Taking over Henry’s post as Mayor in 1968 would be Springfield’s first female mayor, Betty Brunk.

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The 1970s brought about the interstate and I-70 draws businesses along the highway’s corridor.  The population of Springfield has reached upwards into the 150 thousands.  As the number of businesses increase, Springfield Mayor Robert Burton, plans to revitalize the downtown area, which has fallen into ruin over the years.  Another economic victory includes the opening of the Upper Valley Mall in 1971.

By the time Gerald Ford takes office, Robert Burton has made good on his promise to help Springfield and the New City Hall was constructed.

Fast forward to 2016 and there is a continued effort to revitalize the city of Springfield.  The downtown area is growing and new businesses are moving into spaces that were once left vacant.  Snyder Park has once again become a beautiful place to visit and the Farmer’s Market is thriving during the weekends at the Heritage Museum.  Rumor has it that even the Upper Valley Mall will be making changes in the near  future as well but plans have not been finalized.  During my return, it was an exciting time to live in Springfield and many residents came together to further the development of the city in a positive direction.  Who knows?  The difference one could make for Springfield may lead to noteriety at the Heritage Center’s Museum of Springfield history.

Have you had the opportunity to visit the Heritage Center in Springfield and learn about its history?  What was your favorite moment in time?  I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below!

What to See and What to Do:

The Clark County Heritage Center
117 South Fountain Avenue
Springfield, Ohio 45502
Telephone:  937 324 0657

  • Admission Fee:  Free, and donations are welcome.
  • Hours:  Museum:  Tuesday through Friday from 9AM to 4PM; Saturday from 9AM to 3PM.  Closed on the following holidays:  New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Easter, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
  • Amenities:  Bookstore and gift shop, guided tours, video presentation
  • Length of Visit:  2 – 3 hours
  • Tips for Your Visit:  Donations recommended are Family:  $10; Adults:  $5 and Children: $3.

Where to Stay:

Courtyard Marriott Springfield
100 S. Fountain Avenue
Springfield, OH  45502
Telephone:  937 322 3600

Where to Eat:

Heart of Country Gift Shoppe and Teaberries Cafe
1600 E. Leffel Lane
Springfield, OH  45505
Telephone:  937 325 3030

I could spend hours strolling the Heart of Country Shoppe, but when I visit, I can’t wait to have lunch at Teaberries.   I always start my lunch with a piece of yummy, moist orange bread.  Known for their wide varieties of chicken salad sandwiches, I always revert to the House Favorite, the Midwest Delight, served on a butter croissant.   If you have room, try their homemade carrot cake or peanut butter pie.

More favorite Springfield eateries:

  • Schuler’s Donuts:   Their chocolate cream-filled doughnut is their best seller…”home of homemade”. The bakery has several locations in Springfield.
  • Simon Kenton Inn:  This historical home is an inn, restaurant and entertainment venue.  With great food, I love the atmosphere of the Simon Kenton Inn.
  • Guerra’s Krazy Tacos:  One of my favorite places to eat in Springfield, Guerra’s is known for their unique gourmet tacos.
  • Salato Deli:  I love stopping by this deli for their charcuterie board
  • Le Torte Dolci Bakery;  Located next to the Salato Deli, this European French bakery also serves amazing gelato.
  • Mike & Rosie’s Deli:  This staple of Springfield is located near the Wittenberg campus and I am extremely fond of their Reuben sandwich.

Where to Drink: 

  • Mother Stewart’s Brewing Company: Springfield’s only brewery, Mother Stewart’s showcases nine craft beers produced onsite.

What to Read:

  • The Book of Springfield, Ohio, 1906, by Springfield Commercial Club
  • Springfield, Ohio:  A Summary of Two Centuries, by Tom Dunham
  • Ridgewood in the Country Club District, by Tamara K. Dallenbach
  • Still Standing:  A life of pain, adversity and perseverance, by James Cooper
  • Hometown Killer, by Carol Rothgeb

Photo Guide for Springfield, Ohio:  

  • Hartman Rock Garden
  • Westcott House, Frank Lloyd Wright House
  • Glen Helen Nature Preserve in nearby Yellow Springs
  • Heritage Center of Clark County
  • Tecumseh Land Trust in nearby Yellow Springs
  • Ohio Caverns in nearby Bellefontaine
  • Oakes Quarry Park in nearby Fairborn, Ohio
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I have had a passion to travel for as long as I can remember and landed my dream job at the age of 19 on a cruise ship. The Suite Life of Travel is about those experiences as well as my future endeavor to explore this amazing world!

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