I thought I’d be able to sum up my 56 tour of “South Dakota’s Greatest Hits” in one post.  I was amazed, however, at how SD manages to be alternately beautiful and funny.  Today I’ll show you some of the natural or “serious” beauty and save the photos from Wall Drug and the Corn Palace for tomorrow.

I made the trip to the Crazy Horse Monument because every single member of my host family named it as one of their favorite sites in SD.  The museum was interesting (though I went through it really fast because I had to get back to Rapid City for an appointment.  You’ll see the fruits of that meeting soon).

While out west I picked up a copy of Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown… I’m so tired of the books I’m reading for my pre-thesis research and want a break that still feels like education.  This book was highly recommended to me a few years ago and then the HBO series planted it firmly in my “to read” list.