A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....11-04-03....South Dakota ~ "Great Faces, Great Places".

Mama_Bear

[Mama_Bear]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Mama_Bear, dansangel, dutchess, Aquamarine ~

Please join us as we make a cyber-visit to another great state in this Union of ours. As we present each of our 50 states we also salute the proud FReepers who call their state 'home'.

Over the past few months each "Finest" hostess has profiled her home state and I will be presenting the other states in random order. Please FReepMail me if you would like to participate in spotlighting your state. I would love to have your input on what you would like to see highlighted.

These are the states we have presented to date:

05-23-03 Alabama 06-27-03 Maryland 07-11-03 Vermont 07-25-03 Utah 08-05-03 Texas 08-22-03 Nevada 08-26-03 Wash DC

09-05-03 Tennessee 09-17-03 Florida 09-19-03 Minnesota 10-03-03 New Mexico 10-14-03 Georgia 10-17-03 Louisiana 10-22-03 Michigan

Today we are visiting
"The Mount Rushmore State".

The state seal serves as a symbol of life in South Dakota. It depicts the state's diversity of commerce and resources: farming, ranching, industries, lumbering, manufacturing and mining. It bears the motto:

"Under God the People Rule."
The seal was adopted in 1885, four years before the state was admitted to the Union.

More South Dakota symbols...

The earliest people to come into the area which is now South Dakota were ancient mammoth hunters. Much later they were followed by nomadic tribes whose lives centered on bison hunting. Around 1775, the Oglala and Brule bands of the Sioux nation moved into the Bad River territory around the present town of Philip, South Dakota. These Native Americans became the master plains hunters, subsisting on buffalo.

Though the bison-hunting Lakota flourished during the next one hundred years, their dominion on the prairie was short-lived. French fur trappers were the first of many European arrivals who, in time, would supplant the Lakota. Trappers were soon followed by soldiers, miners, cattle farmers and homesteaders who forever changed the face of the prairie.

South Dakota’s history reads like an adventure story. It’s a tale of Plains Indians, explorers and pioneers, and it features names like Crazy Horse, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Wild Bill Hickok. Lewis and Clark traveled through South Dakota in 1804 and 1806 on their journey to the West Coast. If you have a chance to visit this state, be sure to follow the Lewis and Clark Trail for an interesting glimpse into it's rich history and heritage.

South Dakota is the home of the Dakota, Lakota and Nakota tribes, which make up the Sioux Nation.

Our 40th state was admitted to the Union on November 2, 1889.


For those who would like to learn more about
the history of South Dakota, click HERE.

There is much to see and do in South Dakota!

The four figures carved in stone on Mount Rushmore represent the first 150 years of American history. The birth of our nation was guided by the vision and courage of George Washington. Thomas Jefferson always had dreams of something bigger, first in the words of the Declaration of Independence and later in the expansion of our nation through the Louisiana Purchase.

Preservation of the union was paramount to Abraham Lincoln but a nation where all men were free and equal was destined to be. At the turn of the Twentieth Century Theodore Roosevelt saw that in our nation was the possibility for greatness. Our nation was changing from a rural republic to a world power. The ideals of these presidents laid a foundation for our nation as solid as the rock from which their figures are carved.

Each man possessed great skills and leadership of the brand our nation needed for the times. Today millions of visitors come to see Mount Rushmore and gain inspiration from these four great men.

"Tell me the landscape in which you live and I will tell you who you are." Though seemingly inhospitable at first glance, human occupation of the White River Badlands of South Dakota dates back at least 11,000 years with as many as 101 archaeological sites identified.

Devil's Gulch is an amazing geological curiosity in southeastern South Dakota.

The Outlaw's Big Jump
There is debate about whether or not this is fact, but here's the story as it's been told for ages. In 1876 Jesse James robbed the bank in Northfield, Minnesota, in which two of his partners were killed. Fleeing town, the gang split up, with Jesse and his brother Frank heading west toward Dakota Territory. When the two got to this neighborhood, they went separate ways, trying to shake the posse that was still hot in pursuit. At some point the lawmen were literally right on the heels of Jesse, as he and his horse stood on the precipice of a dizzyingly high bluff; this was Devil's Gulch. A fifteen foot gash in the rocks separated him from the other side and freedom. Supposedly he spurred on his horse and actually leapt across the canyon, evading the posse and eventually linking up with brother Frank in the Palisades State Park area not far away. Some accounts indicate that a bullet fatally struck his horse during the leap.

These are the legendary Black Hills of South Dakota, an oasis of pine-clad mountains on the Great Plains. Home of Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorials. The Black Hills offer everything you expect from a mountain vacation: five national parks, scenic drives, waterfalls, abundant wildlife, acclaimed recreational trails and trout fishing. A place where bison and wild horses still roam free.



In the Black Hills, you can go from one monumental mountain carving to the next. This gigantic statue of the Sioux warrior Crazy Horse has been taking shape for the past fifty years. Nearly eight million tons of rock have already been blasted away, and work continues on this 563-foot-high sculpture. When completed, this statue will be the largest one of its kind in the world.

Read more about this amazing sculpture HERE.

The following websites provided information and graphics:

History of The Badlands
Signs and Symbols of South Dakota
Mount Rushmore National Monument
The Black Hills and Badlands

I am sure I have overlooked many interesting facts and points of interest, so please help us celebrate South Dakota by joining in and posting what you know about this Fine state.

Have a nice day!

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 11-03-03...Military Monday

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me an FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

Click on the photo to view the album. To
submit your photo, please contact dansangel or .45MAN danbh59@yahoo.com
and include Freeper Photo Album in
the subject line.

[Calpernia]

>>>How about something about Black Hills Gold?

Here is some about Black Hills Gold. I respect the protest. We all have protests.


A Short History of the Black Hills of South Dakota
By John Quinn

The Black Hills of South Dakota has to a large degree retained its traditional flavor and character. Its rich history is in many ways unique.

The region was the homeland of Sioux Indians who traversed the Great Plains before the advent of Europeans. French explorers arrived in 1742-3, and Spain acquired sovereignty over the region in 1762. The 1803 Louisiana Purchase initiated United States ownership. Until 1856, when Fort Randall was constructed, fur trappers and traders were the sole Caucasians. Vermillion and Yankton soon became permanent establishments. Dakota Territory was created in 1861, with people congregated in the southeast.

The uncovering of gold in the Black Hills in 1874 accelerated and largely motivated the coming of white men. An influx of prospectors caused disturbances in the region while creating opportunities and radically transforming the region. While the Hills had been closed to white entry under treaty terms with the Sioux, the intervention of the United States military failed to discourage prospectors from taking their chances. The Black Hills were sacred Sioux ground. Although conditions could be extreme, for some people there were great rewards. After the fading of surface deposits, corporations followed individuals into the industry. While gold and silver attracted the most attention, other resources proved more consequential over the long term.

The gold rush gave birth to Deadwood. The town has retained some of its former flavor, including gambling and drinking houses, even though covert prostitution has disappeared. The mythological dimensions of the town and personages such as "Wild Bill" Hickok still linger. The city was flamboyant, and, initially, relatively devoid of order, informal yet dangerous. Rapid City became a gateway for Deadwood.

The first transcontinental railroad was established in 1869, through the combined efforts of government and corporations, although subsidiary lines proved to be more important for settlers. They spurred settlement, which was encouraged by railroad companies themselves. Between 1870 and 1890, Dakota population increased six times over.

The 1875 Battle of Little Bighorn was decisive for the region's future, despite the defeat of General George A. Custer. American Indians were forced to cede the Black Hills and accept reduction in their reservation's area. The conflict cleared the way for further development. The last serious Indian-white conflict occurred in 1890; afterwards, barriers to settlement attenuated.

The population swelled in the 1880s, leading to calls for statehood, the division of the Territory, and independence for the southern half. This request met with northern and Congressional opposition, although during 1883-5 the south held constitutional conventions. Statehood was achieved in 1889 for the fortieth state of South Dakota. Populist and Progressive political views- products of widespread malaise among Western farmers- predominated until the 1920s, when more conservative sentiments began to take root. In 1890 the historian Frederick Jackson Turner declared the ending of the frontier, a psychological, if not factual, milestone. The frontier concept continues to influence America's perception of itself.

Agreements with the Sioux facilitated grazing and mining, and cattlemen reigned until the 1900s. The cowboy of the "long-drive," himself domesticated by the bad winter of 1886-7, captured the nation's imagination, as did the notion of the Strenuous Life popularized by Teddy Roosevelt, an owner of a cattle ranch in the Bad Lands. Ranching was risky and competitive. Hearty homesteaders challenged cattlemens' dominance, eventually, although the cession Indian lands mitigated the rivalry. In many ways, the area was a model market society. Farmers' economic situation was always uncertain, and there was a good deal of farmer resentment.
All-around white policy toward Indians emphasized assimilation and paternalism, when there was not outright strife; between 1869 and 1876, there were over 200 violent conflicts in the west. The defeat of Indians was piecemeal, though Sioux resistance was especially desperate. Droughts plagued the populace, although the rapid rise of population in the west river region continued throughout the 1920s. The region suffered during the 1930s Depression, experiencing water shortages, grasshoppers, and dust storms from eroded soils.

Renowned for its natural beauty, the Black Hills has always been the most densely populated area of the western half of South Dakota. Many descendants of early northern and central European settlers, particularly Scandinavians, still reside here. Their influence in establishing churches and their legacy within local social structures has generally proved resilient. Catholicism was the predominant religion of early years, with the Lutheran faith strongly represented.

The economic tide, however, has significantly shifted. Mining, once the bread and butter backbone, has dwindled to roughly 2% of the current economy. In some ways, perhaps, the West was "plundered" and the people "held themselves cheap." The region was unusually dependent on outside areas, especially the East, upon weather, and so forth. Farming country was generally horse-centered economically.

Over 80 amendments to the state's constitution bear witness to regional political vibrancy.
Early culture often centered around the schoolhouse. Much current culture centers upon its early years, and retains a religious or patriotic cast. For example, the Black Hills Passion Play, a narrative of the life of Jesus of Nazareth, has become an institution. Recent developments in theater and music- there are at least seven regional orchestras- bode well for the cultural and spiritual life of the Hills. Wonders such as Gutzon Borglum's titanic Mount Rushmore National Memorial, a mountain carving of four American Presidents, continue to draw international recognition.

[Libertina]

Thanks for peeking in, Billie! Nice to see you too :)

Have a hoyous day everyone. It is election day here and I'm off to help in our local Pubbie HQ. See you tomorrow after the celebrations :)

[Libertina]

Oh good grief...make that JOYOUS! LOL

[Mama_Bear]

Wow! I am so impressed with what you find. Excellent contribution to this thread Cal.

Almost makes you want to cry doesn't it?...for the Black Hills natives and the bison. That was not a time in our history that anyone should ever be proud of.

(BTW, for some reason I couldn't get the coyote link to play. I will try it again.)

[MEG33]

You caught it in time I believe.Good Day to you,Libertina!

[Mama_Bear]

am seeing the pledge for the first time, and it is just wonderful!

Thanks (((((((Billie)))))))).

[MEG33]

Great pic and post,deadhead.Good fall day to you all!

[Mama_Bear]

Hey Aeronaut! Nice to see you and your little red plane, as always.

[Calpernia]

It is an *.au file. It should be compatible with your media applications.

I will post a standard media format too.

[Calpernia]

Gotta LOVE this picture!

CLICK!

[Calpernia]

>>>That was not a time in our history that anyone should ever be proud of.

Embrace the history, learn from the past.

[Libertina]

Good day, Meg :)What a nice thread on South Dakota!
Mama Bear BUMP

[MeekOneGOP]

CBS had their #1 PR guy make an announcement today. Did you already hear ?? ...

CBS will not broadcast THE REAGANS
on November 16 and 18. This decision
is based solely on our reaction to
seeing the final film, not the controversy
that erupted around a draft of the script.

[Calpernia]

Where has Diver Dave been? I had found the cutest graphic I've been wanting to post to him. Is he away?

[Aquamarine]

Good mornin' ya'll! :)

Look at what Doneaus made me go and do! :)
We took this pic in Cades Cove a few weeks ago.

[Mama_Bear]

An interesting condensed version of the history of the Black Hills. Thank you for finding and posting it.

I appreciate you and others who contribute to my state posts by adding interesting vignettes, history, photos, recollections, etc. I especially like your links to animal and bird sounds, Cal (that bison was great!), and Thin Man's posting of the archaic laws.

[FreeTheHostages]

LOL. Yes. and yet strangely LESS than I need to know!

This whole transparency/layering thing is complicated, at least for someone who refuses to read the instructions! ;)

[Aquamarine]

Sorry. Think I got your vowels mixed up a little there. :P

[MEG33]

I do that, too!

[MeekOneGOP]

Thanks. Yep ! That Texas gif is brand new the last day or two.
Freeper "Autoresponder" made that up ...