| The trail leads first to Fort Laramie, | | | | appropriately on buffalo steak! |
| the best-known milepost on the Oregon | | | | Kevin Costner's Tatanka ("buffalo" in |
| Trail. Wagon wheel ruts are still | | | | the Lakota language), and historic |
| visible in nearby Guernsey, mute | | | | Deadwood. The Black Hills were the |
| testimony to the thousands of emigrants | | | | sacred Paha Sapa of the Sioux, the last |
| who carried their hopes and ambitions | | | | Native tribe to submit to the United |
| westward over a hundred years ago. The | | | | States government in the late 19th |
| living history exhibits and interpretive | | | | century. The tribes were completely |
| tour of the fort provide a deeper | | | | dependent on the buffalo for |
| understanding of both the westward | | | | subsistence, and with it's demise came |
| expansion movement and the Native | | | | their own. Fortunately, the buffalo |
| Americans who staked their lives on | | | | (scientific name: Bison Bison) survived, |
| preventing it. Tonight enjoy an | | | | and are today no longer endangered. The |
| authentic Oregon Trail cookout served in | | | | Sioux have also recovered and attendees |
| the shadow of one of the trail's most | | | | will learn about their buffalo culture |
| distinguished landmarks, Chimney Rock. | | | | at Tatanka: Story of the Bison near |
| Following dinner participants sing songs | | | | Deadwood. Centerpiece of the attraction |
| around the campfire and reflect on the | | | | is a larger-than-life bronze sculpture |
| spirit of the pioneers who passed this | | | | featuring 14 bison being pursued by 3 |
| way on their westward journey. | | | | Native American riders. An Educational |
| On the way to the Black Hills, the | | | | Center depicts the story of bison and |
| sacred Paha Sapa of the Sioux, visit | | | | man through interactive exhibits. |
| Fort Robinson, a strategically located | | | | Visitors will visit authentic tipis |
| military and Indian agency during the | | | | interpreted by a Lakota Native and gain |
| final Indian Wars, where Crazy Horse | | | | a unique snapshot of Indian life as it |
| breathed his last. After lunch in the | | | | was during the height of the Buffalo |
| "commissary" (your first opportunity to | | | | Culture around the year 1840. |
| savor buffalo burgers), explore the | | | | Like all Vanishing Trails Expeditions, |
| fort's historic points of interest. Next | | | | the Old West Trail features living |
| visit the outstanding Museum of the Fur | | | | history, special speakers and events, |
| Trade which explains the importance and | | | | authentic meals, interpretive centers, |
| influence of this trade on the area. | | | | historic sites and other activities |
| After settling in to your home for the | | | | specifically related to the theme of the |
| next two nights in Rapid City, attend | | | | tour. These programs allow participants |
| the awe-inspiring evening lighting | | | | to experience first-hand the sites where |
| ceremony at Mount Rushmore, the Shrine | | | | the pivotal events of the history of the |
| of Democracy. | | | | West actually took place. |
| On the second day in Rapid City, visit | | | | Shebby Lee Tours' Vanishing Trails |
| the Stav Kirke, an exact replica of an | | | | Expeditions honoring America's westward |
| 800-year-old church in Borgund, Norway, | | | | expansion movement were introduced in |
| before entering the Black Hills National | | | | 1993 with the Oregon Trail, and have |
| Forest (which encompasses over 1.2 | | | | grown to include the Lewis & Clark |
| million acres of western South Dakota). | | | | Trail, Teddy Roosevelt's Dakota, |
| Pay a second visit to Mount Rushmore for | | | | Custer's Trail, Santa Fe Trail, American |
| daytime photos, and "dine with the | | | | Legacy, Nez Perce Trail, Nevada's Living |
| Presidents" in the new Buffalo | | | | Ghost Towns, Siouxland: the Dakota |
| Cafeteria. In the afternoon visit nearby | | | | Conflict, and Bleeding Kansas: Where the |
| Crazy Horse Monument, the | | | | Civil War Began. |
| still-unfinished mountain carving | | | | All programs are led by tour directors |
| dedicated to Native Americans, and | | | | carefully trained not only in the nuts |
| Custer State Park, one of the largest | | | | and bolts of leading a group tour, but |
| state parks in the country, where | | | | in the historical background for every |
| something special awaits you: an | | | | tour. They conduct the onboard |
| open-air jeep ride through scenic Custer | | | | discussions, provide necessary |
| State Park in search of the buffalo and | | | | information for every stop and activity, |
| other wildlife that roam free in the | | | | and are there to augment the primary |
| Hills. Dinner tonight is at the State | | | | interpreters and re-enactors who make |
| Game Lodge, summer White House to two US | | | | the subject come alive. |
| Presidents - where you'll dine | | | | |