Mt Rushmore Nat Memorial -2

Another of the great shots Ava took of this mountain-sized work of art. The sculptor, below, Gutzon Borglum was born in this country into a Mormon family (his dad married sisters) but his dad soon left the Mormons and having moved back east divorced his mother, the younger sister and second wife. He and his brother both became famous artists. They were also politically involved and fiercely patriotic.

At the Borglum Museum we had a great tour of his life complete with many family artifacts and saw a movie that included a lot of early newsreels of the work in progress. It was really well done and helped us understand the significance of much of what we saw at Mt Rushmore and the area. This fellow, below, is a true artisan in that he has made his living for 34 years making jewelry out of coins. He says he is only one of about 30 that still do this and spends his summers here and winters on the Gulf Coast. We found two pieces that look just right on my photographer.

This picture does not do her skills' justice but we were sitting in a huge amphitheater looking up at Mt Rushmore for the evening progam and lighting ceremony. At the end of the moving, 30-minute program they called all veterans down to participate in a flag-lowering ceremony; it was a fitting conclusion to the day, and, in a way, to this entire journey. God has given us an amazing homeland but only the dedication and sacrifice of many has made it free and freely available to be experienced.