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By Katrina Kane, on July 2nd, 2007 Why oh why do all the vehicles I buy have minds of their own? They are all different types yet they all seem to go where they want to go with me along for the ride. All my cars are Herbies. Once again I went out for a simple run to the local Post Office and ended up at a much more interesting place, Fort Meade, an army post built in 1878 and once home for a time to the 4th and 7th Cavalries.
Fort Meade has no high walls surrounding it like people expect. When it was built the commander felt hiding behind high walls was bad for morale and it was safer to be on constant alert instead. Many of the original buildings like headquarters which is now a museum, the post office, barracks, and stables are still there. Many are still in use. The post was decommissioned and has been turned into a VA hospital but still hosts an Officer Candidates School. It was recommisioned for a short time in 2003 then decommisioned again.
Most notable is the former commander of the fort and his wife are responsible for the Star Spangled Banner becoming our national anthem. They felt it was wrong for a 117 year old country to not have what all other countries have and began having it played at the fort every day and then spoke to the state governor about their vision of making it country-wide for the Army. It caught on apparently. 😉
Continue reading Fort Meade, Sturgis SD
By Katrina Kane, on June 27th, 2007 100 degree heat did not deter this dedicated tourist from her mission on Monday. Mission: seek out and explore new worlds near Keystone, South Dakota. As usual, had I been caught, my family would have disavowed me (course they do that anyway 😉 ).
First stop just south of Rapid City was Fort Hays and the movie sets from “Dances With Wolves”. The actual site was 16 miles away from there but after filming, the movie sets were moved to this new location and a great little tourist spot was built with a tin shop, rope shop, knife shope, sawmill, penny crusher, brick maker, supply house (gift shop), headquarters, and chuckwagon dinner/cowboy show.
 
Check in at headquarters first where you can see lots of pictures taken during filming along with commentary, news of contributions Kevin Costner later made to the area, the movie playing, and the office where John Dunbar received his orders from the major who shot himself. I stood on the actual spot there where Kevin Costner stood. Try to hold down your enthusiasm. You know you would have too!
 
Continue reading Ft. Hays, Presidents Slide, Mount Rushmore
By Katrina Kane, on June 23rd, 2007 One of the great things to do around here is just take a drive, despite gas prices. The Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway through the Black Hills National Forest called to me the other day and I do so hate to miss a call. 😉
It’s a long lovely drive through the canyon with high rock walls, waterfalls, wide open flat road, and Spearfish Creek running alongside the road. Some movies have been shot here including the winter camp scene of “Dances With Wolves”. Custer and the 7th Cavalry explored it once upon a time. Part of the fun is looking for the homesteads well hidden among the trees and designed to naturally blend in. Most are of the charming wood cabin design while one I saw was old Victorian with large porch and detailing. At one resort area I saw a cabin built suspended over the cliff edge for the more bolder of you.
 
Turnouts are everywhere for picture taking and to let the locals go by us slow tourists. There are some excellent developed picnic areas which offer good tables and a chance to cool off your feet in the creek. I’m sure the many hikers appreciate those.
Continue reading Spearfish Canyon and the Stage Stop Cafe
By Katrina Kane, on June 19th, 2007 Went to Devils Tower yesterday for fun. You know the place. It’s where the aliens landed in “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” 😉 First, let me say that while it is quite large, no way it has enough room on top for that base nor can you climb it the way they did but hey it’s the movies and some license is allowed. It was still a great movie and now that I have been there, I can stop playing with my mashed potatoes.
  
Going there is like going to Disneyland in the old days when you could see the Matterhorn for miles away before you got there and everyone gets all excited immediately on sight. Poor Dad would have to put up with all the giddy noise long before we actually got there. Same thing.
I did go a mile out of my way first to see a 110 year old general store and post office in Aladdin, Wyoming first. It is still in operation and the wood floors are quite creaky. Upstairs is antiques for sale or browsing.
Devils Tower is a national monument so you will have to pay $10 to get in to the park to see it unless you have a Golden Eagle yearly pass like some of us full-time travelers do. Getting in through the gate was fast.
The visitor’s center is about 3 miles from the gate. You will drive by the Prairie Dog Village which is a large meadow full of holes and little chipmunk-like creatures hanging out near them while eating or playing. It was rather cute to stop and watch a bit. Looks a lot like the suburbs. Snicker.
Continue reading Devils Tower, Wyoming
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