Dignity: Of Earth and Sky

We left Rapid City today about 10:30 a.m. after Scott had a couple meeting this morning heading toward Pipestone, Minnesota, tonight's destination.  I had planned on stopping at the Chamberlain Rest Stop to see Dignity, the enormous statue of a Native American Woman.  It's quite the site from both the rest stop and also from the roadway.  She stands atop a tall hill overlooking the rest stop with her back to the Missouri River and valley below.  During the daytime, the sun causes the blue shades to twinkle and at night, she is illuminated and strong.

Web Photo

Dignity was given to the people of South Dakota as a $1 million gift from Norm and Eunable McKie of Rapid City.  They announced the gift in 2014 and it was dedicated on September 17, 2016.  As you can see, she is quite tall - 50 feet to be exact and made of stainless steel - designed by sculptor Dale Lamphere to honor the Lakota and Dakota people.  He actually used three models ages 14, 29, and 55 to perfect the fact of Dignity.  Lamphere said, "Dignity represents the courage, perseverance and wisdom of the Lakota and Dakota culture in South Dakota...and serves as a symbol of respect and promise for the future".  Dignity is dressed after a two-hide Native dress of the 1850s and holds an outstretched quilt featuring 128 stainless steel blue diamond shapes designed to flutter in the wind.  Dignity is one of hundreds of sculptures throughout South Dakota on the Sculpture Trail.

Also at this awesome rest stop is a Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center with a very nice display of information on the location there where the Lewis & Clark Expedition encamped on the banks of the Missouri River both coming and going on their exploration.

And, they also have a huge area of brochures for travelers heading east and west to choose from along with free maps and assistance to anyone needing it.

At this location is the Highway Patrol Chamberlain Squad Office, so never fear, you're safe here!

This is probably the largest rest stop I've ever seen with at least 100+ spots for cars, RVs and semi-trucks with two lanes for the big boys!

After stopping at a Menards in Mitchell, South Dakota (yes home of the Corn Palace - we didn't stop because we've seen it before, but you want to know what it is, click on the link) for some essentials like DEF, two chairs, some PVC pipe and dinner, we arrived about 7:30 p.m. in Pipestone, Minnesota, a charming town where I'm going to the Pipestone National Monument where the pipe stone is quarried for peace pipes.  Tomorrow we'll explore the city and let you know what we find out.  We're staying at Pipestone RV Campground, right across the street from the monument so I'll just walk on over in the morning.  We've alrady met Jim and Faye, our next door neighbors.  They are so much fun!  From North Carolina.  Nighty night.