Essay of Place

By Steve Hoffman

When I was about seven years old I went to the Black Hills of South Dakota for the first time. Throughout my life the Black Hills has been an important place in my life. That first year 1993 my family and I stayed in a cabin out in the middle of the all the trees in the Hills. I do not remember much about that years trip because I was only about seven, but it was still special to me because it was the first time I went out of little Yankton south Dakota and other than Sioux Falls. O this trip we saw Mount Rushmore and viewed Needles Highway with several different large rock formations. Also we came upon historical towns, Deadwood, Keystone, Lead and bought souvenirs there.

When is was about ten years old we went out to the Black Hills again this time we stayed in a different Cabin. I remember that my cousins Andy and Tom Glenn and my aunt and uncle Connie and Terry Glenn stayed with us. This cabin was a little bit larger and had more rooms. There was a narrow creek right behind our cabin that contained clear and refreshing water. I recall fishing in this creek for trout with my cousins, however we only caught our luck on one fish. During this time I got to know my cousins better and knew more things about them. That week in the Hills many years ago will never leave my memory. Also that year we went mountain hiking up a few different mountains or large hills. Again all of us saw Mount Rushmore and the first time unfinished Crazy Horse National Monument.

Later on in the summer of 1998 when I was twelve we started going to a yet a different cabin this one was even more spacious than the one before years ago. Again my relatives the Glenns’ came to stay with us but also my relatives the Cronins’ also embarked on our trip they stayed with us a few nights. Now this trip was even more memorable because we did a lot more fishing and I caught my first actually big trout!

Also my uncle Bob Cronin took us Mountain climbing on the big Mountains like Harney Peak and Devils Tower.

Now in the summer of 2002 I had gone our family had gone there yet again and to the same cabin as the few years before in 1998. We really liked this cabin even if just us were the ones staying in it. This cabin had four decks five bedrooms an upstairs and downstairs living room and two bathrooms also a nice sized kitchen and sort of den library. I remember details from this trip the most because it was just this past summer in early June. This past year we did not have any relatives stay with us. However my Uncle Bob and Aunt Beck liked the Black Hills area so much they now live in Rapid City, which is very close to the Hills. All of these trips were important places in my life. They were times of great memories and getting away from Eastern South Dakota and to just spend quality time with family.