The original log school house was built in the early 1890s. According to the signs, Miss Mary Wheelock taught 40 students here in 1894-1895! I can’t imagine where they all sat! In 1899, the Keystone School was built in Victorian architecture, at a cost of $10,000 for 300 students. It served as a schoolhouse until 1988. Now the building is home to the Keystone Historical Museum, but closes for the winter in September. 
From Keystone we continued south along the Iron Mountain Road to Custer State Park.
Known for its “pigtail” bridges, Iron Mountain Road redefined what a road could be. Between the entrance of Mount Rushmore and Custer State Park, we traveled over 17 miles of the stacked loops of wooden bridges and through one-lane tunnels that perfectly frame Mount Rushmore.
Designed by Cecil Cylde Gideon in 1932, many people felt cutting a road through the area could not be done. Riding horseback, CC Gideon and Senator Norbeck spent long hours laying out the Iron Mountain Road, the tunnels that frame Mount Rushmore, and these bridges. These bridge surfaces are neither straight, level, nor flat, and the log work has great variation in quality. Logs were selected from nearby, cut to fit, seasoned, then put in place. They are a true testament of engineering determination and vision!
Such care was taken not to disturb the landscape that some sections of the road actually divide into one-lane one-way ribbons that swoop and bound through mixed pine and deciduous forest. This is a postcard I bought that shows the unique design of this highway!
We stopped to take a picture looking back at Mount Rushmore through one of the one-lane tunnels along the road.
After a picnic lunch, we continued south to drive the “Wildlife Loop Road” in the park. We stopped at the historic Wildlife Station Visitor Center to find the best place to spot bison. The building was originally built as the Buffalo Herdsman's house and over the years has housed the herdsman and other park staff, but more recently became a Visitor Center around 1990. The building was constructed with the unique craftsmanship of the CCC era. It houses exhibits, wildlife mounts, and a bookstore. With our “bison directions” in hand, we continued another six miles down the road where much of the approximate 1000 head-herd is already being moved for the winter.
Known for its “pigtail” bridges, Iron Mountain Road redefined what a road could be. Between the entrance of Mount Rushmore and Custer State Park, we traveled over 17 miles of the stacked loops of wooden bridges and through one-lane tunnels that perfectly frame Mount Rushmore.
Designed by Cecil Cylde Gideon in 1932, many people felt cutting a road through the area could not be done. Riding horseback, CC Gideon and Senator Norbeck spent long hours laying out the Iron Mountain Road, the tunnels that frame Mount Rushmore, and these bridges. These bridge surfaces are neither straight, level, nor flat, and the log work has great variation in quality. Logs were selected from nearby, cut to fit, seasoned, then put in place. They are a true testament of engineering determination and vision!
Such care was taken not to disturb the landscape that some sections of the road actually divide into one-lane one-way ribbons that swoop and bound through mixed pine and deciduous forest. This is a postcard I bought that shows the unique design of this highway!
We stopped to take a picture looking back at Mount Rushmore through one of the one-lane tunnels along the road.
After a picnic lunch, we continued south to drive the “Wildlife Loop Road” in the park. We stopped at the historic Wildlife Station Visitor Center to find the best place to spot bison. The building was originally built as the Buffalo Herdsman's house and over the years has housed the herdsman and other park staff, but more recently became a Visitor Center around 1990. The building was constructed with the unique craftsmanship of the CCC era. It houses exhibits, wildlife mounts, and a bookstore. With our “bison directions” in hand, we continued another six miles down the road where much of the approximate 1000 head-herd is already being moved for the winter.
Ann and I hopped into the back end of their truck so we could have a better view of the herd. We watched in amazement as other tourists were out of their vehicles, taking pictures of the bison, despite the warning signs that these are dangerous animals! 
We took video of several bulls chasing a female across the fields, across the road, and around the truck. There is no way I would want to be standing out in the road when they went zooming by! http://youtu.be/Xq1flsK9D7g and http://youtu.be/QZR1mQ_Lcp4
After 45 minutes of watching these huge beasts, we continued on the loop. Another five or six miles down the road we came upon the wild burros. The burros are not native to the park; they are feral animals that are descended from burros (donkeys) that were once used to transport people up to the top of Harney Peak (also in the park). After the trips were discontinued, the burros were released in the park. Thus, they became semi-wild to wild animals that have passed down the skill of begging for handouts from the many cars that travel the road.
After 45 minutes of watching these huge beasts, we continued on the loop. Another five or six miles down the road we came upon the wild burros. The burros are not native to the park; they are feral animals that are descended from burros (donkeys) that were once used to transport people up to the top of Harney Peak (also in the park). After the trips were discontinued, the burros were released in the park. Thus, they became semi-wild to wild animals that have passed down the skill of begging for handouts from the many cars that travel the road.
They seem to hang out along/on an area of the road that has a pull off area.
Okay, so I had to get out and pet them … they were quite friendly!
A little further down the road, we saw several pronghorn on the hill. This one paused long enough to pose for a picture
A little further down the road, we saw several pronghorn on the hill. This one paused long enough to pose for a picture
!
Gary gave me a bad time because I wanted to stop to see “Prairie Dog Town,” an area where the prairie dogs gather. He kept reminding me that they are really rodents. I don’t care. Prairie dogs are named for their habitat and warning call, which sounds similar to a dog's bark and it was fun for me!
Not to disappoint, we passed a small herd of mountain sheep walking along the road shortly before the Mount Coolidge Lookout.
We could actually see Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse behind us using quite a bit of camera zoom!
After Mount Coolidge we continued north onto the 14 mile stretch of Needles Highway. It passes through pine and spruce forests, meadows surrounded by aspen and birch trees, and rugged granite mountains. The road's name comes from the needle-like granite formations which seem to pierce the horizon along the highway. Many of these formations are 50 to 100 feet above the highway and rounding each switchback is a new set of unique rocks to view.
The roadway was carefully planned by former South Dakota Governor Peter Norbeck, who marked the entire course on foot and by horseback. Construction was completed in 1922. Because the tunnel is so narrow, we had to pull the mirrors in on Gary’s truck so we didn’t scrape the sides!
We had one more wildlife sighting before we got back to Hill City for dinner. There was a flock of wild turkeys along the road.
We arrived back into Hill City about 4:30 and went to the Alpine Inn for dinner. Ann and Gary had been there years ago, and we were happy with their suggestion. The dinner menu is limited – you have a choice of a 6 ounce or 9 ounce bacon-wrapped Filet Mignon served with a salad and baked potato. It was delicious!!!
http://www.alpineinnhillcity.com/sidebar-dinner.php
After stuffing ourselves, we headed back to camp for a relaxing evening of cards.
Gary gave me a bad time because I wanted to stop to see “Prairie Dog Town,” an area where the prairie dogs gather. He kept reminding me that they are really rodents. I don’t care. Prairie dogs are named for their habitat and warning call, which sounds similar to a dog's bark and it was fun for me!
Not to disappoint, we passed a small herd of mountain sheep walking along the road shortly before the Mount Coolidge Lookout.
We could actually see Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse behind us using quite a bit of camera zoom!
After Mount Coolidge we continued north onto the 14 mile stretch of Needles Highway. It passes through pine and spruce forests, meadows surrounded by aspen and birch trees, and rugged granite mountains. The road's name comes from the needle-like granite formations which seem to pierce the horizon along the highway. Many of these formations are 50 to 100 feet above the highway and rounding each switchback is a new set of unique rocks to view.
The roadway was carefully planned by former South Dakota Governor Peter Norbeck, who marked the entire course on foot and by horseback. Construction was completed in 1922. Because the tunnel is so narrow, we had to pull the mirrors in on Gary’s truck so we didn’t scrape the sides!
We had one more wildlife sighting before we got back to Hill City for dinner. There was a flock of wild turkeys along the road.
We arrived back into Hill City about 4:30 and went to the Alpine Inn for dinner. Ann and Gary had been there years ago, and we were happy with their suggestion. The dinner menu is limited – you have a choice of a 6 ounce or 9 ounce bacon-wrapped Filet Mignon served with a salad and baked potato. It was delicious!!!
http://www.alpineinnhillcity.com/sidebar-dinner.php
After stuffing ourselves, we headed back to camp for a relaxing evening of cards.
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