Prairie Home w/Companion

Every day, every road opens up the pages of history that I studied long ago, and some more recently. It was a great series of days and adventures that I did not expect after the game in Minnesota. Today was a random ramble through some unknown areas.

We started driving after the game and made good progress until we decided we needed sleep. Mankato the first night, and an hour forty minutes east of Rapid City South Dakota a half an hour out of Chamberlain the second night. We headed off the road at some small unknown town that had an RV park, but we found it closed. We ended up sleeping in the back of a closed business by a gas station.

It is funny how when you close your curtains and put down the blinds you almost feel invisible to the outside world. We have heat, music, bathrooms, cozy couch, food and a comfy bed. Mostly we have each other. What else do we really need?

We left our 'hideaway' and drove all day until dusk. As the sun was starting to set we came near to a rest area on the edge of the Missouri River. The sign on the side of the road pointed to the rest area and said "Original Work by N.C. Wyeth.

We had to stop. In Maine, we went to the Farnsworth Gallery in Rockland and saw an exhibit commemorating the 100 year anniversary of Andrew Wyeth. The exhibit also went into the life of his Father, N.C. Wyeth who was a famous artist and book illustrator. I bought some children's books illustrated by him for our grandchildren. The exhibit area of the Rest Area was closed but outside the building looking over the prairie and facing the sunset was this beautiful sculpture. The Travel Dakota website tells about her. I have great pics of this on my camera but will use Bob's pics here.

Her name is Dignity. The Dignity sculpture is a stunning combination of art and history. Located on a bluff between exits 263 and 265 on Interstate 90 near Chamberlain, the stainless steel, 50-foot-tall statue was specifically designed by sculptor Dale Lamphere to honor the cultures of the Lakota and Dakota people.

“Dignity represents the courage, perseverance, and wisdom of the Lakota and Dakota culture in South Dakota,” Lamphere said. “My hope is that the sculpture might serve as a symbol of respect and promise for the future.”
Representing the rich Native American culture of South Dakota, the 50-foot Native woman gracefully wears a dress patterned after a two-hide Native dress of the 1850s. She holds outstretched a quilt featuring 128 stainless steel blue diamond shapes designed to flutter in the wind. During the day, her star quilt – a representation of respect, honor, and admiration in Native American culture – glitters in the sun with color-changing pieces that move with the wind. At night, LED lights causes the diamond shapes to glow in the night sky, casting a peaceful presence easily visible from the Interstate."


Dusk had fallen and we saw her in the last light of the day, but because of the winter season, the LED lights were turned off. Ha Ha...our story for this late in the yeaer excursion, however. We have not run into a crowd anywhere (except the games) and we have had the ability to stay as long as we want and enjoy ourselves without lines or interference. Bliss in my book!