This adventure begins over 70 years ago! Really,,,this is how the story goes.
When Rog's mom, Wyn, was 5 her family relocated from Indiana to the hills of South Dakota. They lived close to the Missouri river outside of Pierre, South Dakota. She spent the next 7 years there. Roaming the mountains, fishing in Antelope Creek with her older brother John and going to school with the other children, (usually no more then 7 kids!). Her first year of school was on the Indian Reservation. She hasn't been back since then. She has wanted to return to South Dakota and try to find where her family lived for years. She and her husband Paul have also wanted to see the Badlands. Well, guess who else wanted to see the Badlands...that's right, Rog and I.
We left Elkhart this past Tuesday. Everyone ready to head West!
We stopped overnight in Stuart, Iowa and the following day we stopped at a rest stop and came across this amazing view.
That's the Missouri River in the background, notice the Beware of Poisonous Snakes sign!
Mom getting closer for a better look.
See that smile!
We continued on to Pierre, South Dakota. Pierre is actually the second smallest state capital, second to Montpelier, Vermont. We checked in to our hotel and decided to head back out and try to find where she had lived. It was still early the sun was shining and I think we were all anxious to see if we could find it. We stopped at the Chamber of Commerce/Visitors center. The folks there were so helpful. Made phone calls to Bureau of Land Management to try to find out if the area we were headed to was open to the public. They suggested we also check out the Cultural Historical Center for information. They told us they didn't think there was much out there. We were on a mission.
Gravel road headed into the hills.
Mom looking at remnants from an old foundation. We were wondering if it could have been their home.
Rog and Paul close to the Missouri River.
This is where Mom and John used to go swimming, where Antelope Creek and the Missouri meet.
This was a big day, and we were all very excited we were able to find the location.
Mom is pretty sure their home was at the base of these hills, or at least in this general vicinity.
It was really amazing we were able to find this location from just the few things she could remember.
The next day we headed out to the Cultural Historical Center. We spoke with 4 different employees. Everyone was willing to go the extra mile to help. Mom was hoping to locate one of the people she had grown up with. Victor Boyles or Bob Weber. The man that was in charge of the archives, Ken Stewart, was a gold mine! He had known Victor Boyle, who passed away a few years ago and he knew of Mr Weber. He gave us a name of another gentlemen who might be able to give mom more information. After we spoke with them we headed into the museum.
This museum had amazing Indiana artifacts from the seven tribes that lived in the area. I can only remember 3, Lakota, Cheyenne and Sioux.
The exhibit covered the early history of South Dakota through present day.
View from the top of the Museum out towards the State Capital.
Paul checking out the 1927 Dodge Coupe.
We spent 2 hours in the museum and then we headed west to the Badlands. I was totally amazed when we entered the park.
They made it!
Check this one off our bucket list!
The college students from State College Pennsylvania that took our picture.
That's Rog in the center.
The Badlands are made up of millions of years of sedimentary rock. We only drove through. Someday I think we will come back and bring our camper and spend a week or so. It was breathtaking.
Next we headed to Keystone to the cabin we rented for 4 days. Only about 2 hours from the Badlands. Our cabin is nestled in the Black Hills. It really is cute, with 2 bedrooms and all covered in cedar in the inside.
The view out our front door.
Home sweet home for the next 4 days.
Not sure where we are headed to today, maybe Mount Rushmore! Where ever we go, memories will be made!
