Mount Rushmore was a surprise to me - I didn't expect to be so moved to see the monument. It's one of the most powerful patriotic experiences I've had. We had the opportunity to walk the trail at the base of the mountain, which gave us some different perspectives on the faces of these great men from our history.
A developer had begun digging in anticipation of building a new neighborhood in Hot Springs, South Dakota when he realized that he had uncovered an area of possible interest to archeologists. And thus ensued a fascinating look into the remote past.
It turns out that a sinkhole formed in the Pleistocene era, and animals would come there to drink. The sides were sloped and slippery, and the animals would slide in and be unable to extricate themselves. To date, the remains of over 60 mammoths have been uncovered there. According to a Wikipedia article about the site, "Findings at the site include the remains of megafauna such as giant short-faced bears along with those of shrub oxen, American camel, llama, wolves, coyotes, birds, minks, ferrets, prairie dogs, voles, and moles. Invertebrate discoveries include several species of clams, snails, and slugs."
It's a fascinating site if you have the opportunity to visit!
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