Today we visited Pipestone National Monument. It was both interesting and educational.
Before the White Man came, the western Indians mined special red stone here to make ceremonial pipes. (They smoked wild tobacco and other herbs, depending on the occasion and the individual.) White men also liked the soft, red stone and exploited the area before it was set aside for Indian use only. The land is still considered sacred by Native Americans. They still come to mine this special stone with hand tools, with special permission from the government. Inside the visitor center we watched someone carving this beautiful stone. We walked among the quarry pits and saw a lovely waterfall.
Today was very windy, so we only drove as far as Sioux Falls, and were later treated to thundershowers.
I’m in a hurry… We need to get on the road….
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