Showers today!!!
We had intended to go climbing today, but it rained most of last night and kept drizzling a little bit into today. Plan B – Be Spearfish and Deadwood Tourists
Friendship Tower – 11:45
Seth Bullock happened to meet Teddy Roosevelt when he was twenty-six and traveling with two other cowboys across Seth’s land. Seth thought they looked like a troublesome gambling outfit and went as a US Marshal to stop them. Roosevelt along with another cowboy were bringing in a horse thief wanted in Dakota Territory. The chance meeting was the beginning of a thirty-five year relationship between the two. Roosevelt would even send his three sons to Seth in the summer time for them to learn hunting and riding and give them true Western adventures. In 1905 when Roosevelt was chosen as president Seth rounded up some men from the Black Hills who rode in the inaugural parade whooping and shooting their guns while the crowd cheered. “Bullock became one of most staunchest and most valued friends.”
Seth Bullock was instrumental in establishing Jewel Cave National Monument, Wind Cave National Park, Devil’s Tower National Monument, and D.C. Booth National Fish Hatchery. All places we have now been too and enjoyed.
The Friendship Tower was constructed in 1919 due to the efforts of Seth Bullock to commemorate the life and death of his friend Teddy Roosevelt.
Cody often gathers me a flower or a colorful leaf. Today Scott gathered some raspberries. Brooke wanted to get in on the fun so she picked me a lovely purple flower, roots and all. Umm…. Well at least we aren’t in a National Park and at least there were plenty more. My bouquet from everyone became so large and difficult to carry that I decided to put it on a tree stump near a bench for everyone to enjoy.
This is a family vacation first – we went to a cemetery. Mt. Moriah Cemetery is where Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane are buried. We also discovered that Seth Bullock was also buried here. Seth died three months after the dedication ceremony for the Teddy Roosevelt Friendship Tower and was buried high up in Mount Moriah Cemetery where he would always have an unobstructed view of Mount Roosevelt.
However, to get to Seth Bullock we had hike uphill a quarter of a mile. The view was incredible.
Next stop – Deadwood – Where Wild Bill Hickok roamed the streets and met his end.
We ventured across a t-shirt shop that was quite funny. Potty humor…that’s all I have to say. Healthy lunch – Diary Queen!
4:30 - Terry Peak Overview
Scott cooked up some campfire cooked burgers and potatoes. At 8:50pm we headed out on a family bike ride through Spearfish.
We stopped at the D.C. Booth Fish Hatchery and feed the trout for a bit.
