Wind Cave – in the White House
Mount Rushmore isn’t the only Black Hills national park making an appearance in the White House for Christmas.
According to a press release from the National Park Service (and a handy article from the Rapid City Journal), a handmade ornament depicting Wind Cave National Park’s above-ground buffalo herds and below-ground boxwork formations is hanging on the White House Christmas Tree in the Blue Room. Painted with acrylic on a five-inch sphere by a former park employee, the ornament hangs on the Bush family’s 18-foot Fraser fir.
I understand the 390 other national parks have ornaments, too, so the Black Hills should have a pretty good showing. Aside from Wind Cave and Mount Rushmore, there are Badlands National Park, Devils Tower National Monument, Jewel Cave National Monument and Minuteman Missile National Historic Site. I haven’t seen any news from the NPS about the other ornaments, though.
Anyone got time to run over to the White House and snap a picture?
