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Originally Posted by Ron61
Wes,
There was a show of 10 one hour segments on over the weekend that went through each state and its history. Very interesting and kind of funny about North and South Dakota. First the fight about which became a state first as the president signed the bill for both of them at the same time, so there was about a 5 second delay between them. Then North Dakota was going to drop the North because it sounds cold and would drive away tourists. Then they decided to keep it as the president had shuffled the bills and wouldn't say which one he signed first so, North Dakota decided that since N comes before S they would keep the North and claim they became a state first. Also one that I would never have guessed is which state is the 3rd largest Gold producing place in the world. 
Ron |
Ron,
I know that not so many years ago ND considered the idea of dropping the "north", perhaps for the second time. Again Bernies terminology principle at play, I guess.
ND has an interesting rugged land area in the Badlands where Teddy Roosevelt once ranched. It's a somber haunting landscape with just enough grass to keep a few head of cattle alive unless a horse mounted rider, with more head, keeps 'em moving.
My rail run goes right through the Badlands for 100+ miles, including the historic town of Medora, which sits in the bottom of a saddle (mile post 150) between two immense hills. Although, with good brakes, we hit 40 mph at the bottom through town, we drop to a tedious one hour climb of down to 12 mph to get back out at mp 134. The area is full of deer, antelope and a feeling of inner peace.... peace when you've done it so long, you can momentarily block out the rail squeals and throb of the huge engines.
But SD has beautiful foothills (Black Hills) about the size of eastern mountains. Very rugged. So a large part of them
were relegated to Indian Reservation. Until they discovered gold. A lot of it. Towns like Deadwood grew up overnight and eventually fostered the HBO series by the same name. Bill Hickok was shot in Saloon #10 and the structure still looks and smells like it could be original. Everyone should come here in their lifetime. The wild and P.O.ed Indians are nearly under control but don't flash your FBI badge around Pine Ridge.
We've drank 'till the last man left standing and once attended a wedding there, in #10, of a gray ponytailed fellow that I've seen working for Barrett-Jackson, who was invited by of one of our car club members. His wife wasn't gray at all and won't be for quite a while.
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