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