Dignity of Earth and Sky

 Tuesday, April 24, 2023

Our trip to South Dakota was not exclusively to see this statue called Dignity of Earth and Sky but when we realized it was a trip we were going to need to take stopping here became a priority. My sister's mother-in-law had told her about this statue and told her to let me know about it or maybe she had asked if we had seen it, it has been awhile and my memory is not real clear on the details. Regardless, after hearing about it and doing some research I told Tom the next time we are in South Dakota we need to make it part of our travel plans to stop here. 

We always say things happen for a reason well in March things happened. First we started having major problems with the Jeep and as a result we knew making any long rides to explore the area we are stopped in was not going to be possible. So we regrouped and made another plan. Then March turned into April and after some checking on the South Dakota DMV site Tom found out we could not renew our Driver's License online. As fulltime RVer's who use a Mail Forwarding Service we needed to renew our license in person. Again we regrouped and made another plan. So I am pretty sure this trip was plan C or it may have been D. It does not really matter what matters is the final result. Our decision to make our way to US-83 and take it North until we reached I-90 in South Dakota was overall a wonderful one. I am going to be honest and say there were some moments along the way when the scenery never changed, especially in the beginning, and it was a little boring but then Tom or I would spot something in the distance and that over took any feelings of boredom that we could have let in. Amazingly the time and miles just flew by. Warmer weather and less wind would have been nice but it is what it is and if you are going to travel in your home on wheels you learn to make adjustments and enjoy the journey. That in fact is what we did, we enjoyed the journey. 

The real bonus in all of this for me was we now had the opportunity to stop and see the Dignity of Earth and Sky Statue. What a beautiful work of art she is. The only disappointment was that the Lewis and Clark Welcome Center was closed for renovations. 

I have included information below that I found online other then that there is not much I can add; the pictures speak for themselves. I was thrilled that we had a lovely blue sky as a backdrop for the pictures.

Dignity of Earth and Sky (shortened to Dignity for brevity) is a sculpture on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River near Chamberlain, South Dakota. The 50-foot (15.24 meter) high stainless steel statue by South Dakota artist laureate Dale Claude Lamphere depicts an Indigenous woman in Plains-style dress receiving a star quilt. According to Lamphere, the sculpture honors the culture of the Lakota and Dakota peoples who are indigenous to South Dakota. Assisting Lamphere were sculptors Tom Trople, Jim Maher, Andy Roltgen, and Grant Standard. Automotive paint expert Brook Loobey assisted with the colors for the quilt, and Albertson Engineering of Rapid City, South Dakota, ensured the sculpture would endure the strong winds common in the area.

Norm and Eunabel McKie of Rapid City, South Dakota, announced their gift of Dignity to the State of South Dakota in 2014, in honor of the 125th anniversary of South Dakota statehood. The statue was erected in September 2016 at a site near Interstate 90, where it overlooks the river. It is situated in the Chamberlain Interstate Welcome Center located at mile post 264 and is accessible by both directions of travel.

The statue measures 50 feet (15 m) high, 16 feet (4.9 m) deep and 32 feet (9.8 m) wide. The star quilt held by the woman has more than 100 blue diamond shapes that move in the wind "like an Aspen leaf".

Three Native American women from Rapid City, SD served as the models for the sculpture. The artist began by first drawing the form and then sculpting a one-eighth-scale model. The sculpture was created in an isolated area near the Cheyenne River, east of Rapid City, SD, and later moved to the installation site. The statue boldly proclaims that South Dakota's Native cultures are alive, standing with dignity.

These were at the start of the trail to the scenic view
point. We did take the walk down the path. I took the
picture below and the one of
the Lewis and Clark Memorial Bridge along hear.

Chamberlain-Oacoma Bridge

Located in both Chamberlain and Oacoma (hence the name!), the Chamberlain-Oacoma is a nearly one-mile-long man-made marvel, dedicated in 1925, that connects the two towns via sturdy steel. Today, this National Register of Historic Places attraction can still be visited and offers one of the most scenic and unique drives in all South Dakota!

I took this as we were coming back up the path.

We even remembered to take a selfie.

“Whitwam’s Wigwams"

The Lewis and Clark Memorial Bridge

These two sets of panels

were outside the welcome center.

This was inside near the bathrooms.
We could see the workers inside through here.

In a 2017 column published in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader, Susan Claussen Bunger, instructor of Native American social systems, wrote:

As is evident through history, humans will ultimately disillusion and betray. As is such, I have a new role model who is solid and sturdy. She literally owns a spine of steel and reminds me of the injustice in the world, but also of strength, perseverance and survival. She signifies people who have prevailed through the centuries. She represents all who resist and strive forward. She portrays a rallying cry for those who wish to be heard and valued. She stands strong and proud, meeting the morning sun and bracing against the nighttime cold. She contemplates the world through a poise of conviction and fearlessness. 

Her name is "Dignity".

We are glad you stopped by!

If you have time to leave a comment we would enjoy hearing from you.