Review of Mount Rushmore

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I got very excited the closer we got to Keystone.  All I could think about was, "would we see Mt. Rushmore, around one of these curves?"  We didn't until after we checked into the hotel. 

My first sight of the monument was the side profile of Lincoln.  As we neared the visitors center I grew doubly excited upon the full front veiw of this magnificent artist piece.  What an amazing canvas to put a vision upon. 

We stayed and stared for maybe and hour and then we were told about the lighting ceremony they do everynight and we left and decided to come back for it.

We sat waiting for the ceremony to begin and struck up a conversation with a nice couple from Michigan.  They told us about being there in the 70's and how there had only been a small center and everything that was here now was simply a parking lot.

Mount Rushmore lit up at night.

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The ceremony started with a quiz and then a movie followed that explained why these four presidents were chosen.  Afterward they sang the star spangled banner and slowly began lighting the Mountain.  At the end they called up all the veteran's down for the lowering of the flag. 

I was not ready for the emotion that flowed through me when they began playing "Taps".  Once the flag was lowered and folded it was presented to the veterns to pass to each other.  You could fell and see the reverence they held for what the flag meant.  On man even kissed it before passing it on. 

 It was so surreal to be there and by the time you leave the ceremony you can see and feell one man's dream.