Dakotas Trip Day 2, Monday, September 9, 2019

Breakfast at the hotel and then we were off to Cheyenne, WY, to see their capitol. Thankfully I needed to cancel this trip last year, or I'd have missed this capitol altogether. They just underwent a complete renovation and restored the capitol to its original splendor at a cost of $116 million and it reopened in July this year. They said that the people voted to do it, and they saved for years. The renovation took four years because they gutted the inside so they could put new plumbing, electrical, heating, air, foundations, etc. So rewarding to see a state doing this instead of making the capitol a tourist attraction while they build working offices in a modern building at a different location.

Before our visit, we had lunch at The EpicEgg right by the capitol. Bill has been talking about it continuously.

He really liked his brunch dish called Latin Fare. It consisted of "jalapeno-corn cakes, carnitas, peppadew peppers and two poached eggs, covered with creamy lemon hollandaise sauce and served with black beans and mexican rice on the side."

And I had the Phoenix, which was "parmesan encrusted grilled sourdough with sliced turkey, tomato, crispy bacon, monterey jack and cheddar cheese and avocado," with a side of greens. 

You knew there would be more food photos, didn't you? And the best part of lunch was the view of the capitol right out the restaurant window.

So off to the capitol.

In the foyer

They uncovered six vaults in the basement which had original oils on the doors. 

The chambers

Many paintings

Supreme Court

The upper level

The four corners are called capitolas and each holds a statue created by artist Delissaide. They're the four sisters representing Truth, Justice, Courage, and Hope.

Truth leads the way illuminating our path towards a meaningful life.

Justice sets the course for Wyomingites to live without tyranny and in peace and respect for one another.

Courage allows us to carry on, encouraging and exhorting us to choose what is right.

Hope reminds us that the yearnings of our souls will be satisfied and that she provides strength for the day and meaning to our travails.

Each is nine feet tall and weighs between 600-700 pounds. 

Lots of beautiful stained glass, some Tiffany.

New office buildings have been constructed behind the capitol, and the walkways connecting them is underway. There will also be a tunnel connecting them which will be really appreciated in the frigid winters.

And a portrait of Nellie Tayloe Ross, the very first lady governor in the USA.

Out front and across the street, we found the statue of the artist who created all the Western scene paintings.

Okay, time to go to Windcave National Park. Oh, no! The elevators aren't working, so no tours.

So instead we had a great time watching the antics in a prairie dog town.

Decided to go to the hotel and see Mt. Rushmore the next day, but as we drove right by the entrance, we went in. I already knew that most of the place is closed for renovation, but I thought Bill could at least see the faces in the twilight, and then later when they were illuminated after dark.

The visitor center and food service were open, so we had buffalo stew and bought some souvenirs and gifts.

Mt. Rushmore is a national monument, rather than a national park.

On to the hotel where we took a stroll after checking in. Keystone has definitely become a total tourist trap.

These photos from Mt. Rushmore were taken on a prior trip - 2006.

 

And photos of Keystone from the same trip.

The three Civil War figures carved into the side of Stone Mountain in Georgia; Jefferson Davis, Stonewall Jackson, and Robert E. Lee. Gutzon Borglum also worked on this sculpture.

End of a very long day. Off to North Dakota tomorrow.