Teddy Roosevelt and the Black Hills
Of the four presidents carved into the side of Mount Rushmore, the only non-surveyor was Theodore Roosevelt. The irony, however, is that Roosevelt is the only one of the four presidents who had a direct connection to the Black Hills. Roosevelt once ranged cattle in the area and also hunted game there. He appointed close friend, Seth Bullock, as the first person to oversee the newly created Black Hills National Forest.
After Roosevelt’s death in 1919, Bullock had Sheep Mountain near Deadwood renamed Mount Theodore Roosevelt. The dedication ceremony took place on July 4, 1919, with the placement of a large monument.
Sheep Mountain was the location of an early triangulation station for the U. S. Geological Survey. It was most likely a copper bolt set in an outcropping of stone. It’s on my list of monuments to find. I believe there is probably a newer USGS monument there as well. Weather-permitting, I am going there this weekend.
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Jerry – Have fun! How did you find this new mystery?
The “broad highway” to the summit looks more like a hiking trail now, coming off of Pine Crest Lane. At least that’s the way it looks in Google Earth.
Of the four presidents carved into the side of Mount Rushmore, the only non-surveyor was Theodore Roosevelt. The irony, however, is that Roosevelt is the only one of the four presidents who had a direct connection to the Black Hills. Roosevelt once ranged cattle in the area and also hunted game there.
Badlands not Black Hills
Yes, they made the section of the Badlands at the extreme western edge of N. Dakota Theodore Roosevelt Nat. Park.
From summer vacation 2009:
Perry, you shoulda coulda woulda let me know you were in the neighborhood.
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