2009 Independence Day Celebration at Mount Rushmore

America’s birthday party is sure to be another big one, and Mount Rushmore National Memorial will celebrate this Independence Day with one of the largest Fourth of July fireworks displays in the country. Taking place on July 3rd, the twelfth annual event will include a half hour choreographed display of spectacular fireworks which will include over 5,200 firework artillery shells. Also planned for the event will be entertainment, music, historic re-enactments and even ceremonial military aircraft fly-overs.

The gold in The Hills is going to shimmer and sparkle during this memorable display!

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“The fireworks and events of the weekend put an exclamation point on what, for many, is the classic all-American family vacation,” said Richard Benda, secretary of the Department of Tourism and State Development. “It is truly our privilege to host this event in such a beautiful and historic place as the Black Hills.”

“The sight of fireworks lighting the night sky above Mount Rushmore is an experience that stays with people for a lifetime,” said Diana Saathoff, executive director for the Mount Rushmore Memorial Society. “You can see in the faces of young and old alike the awe of the scene and the incredible sense of patriotism it inspires.”

In 2008, about 30,000 people attended the annual celebration while more than 53 million viewers watched the fireworks display on television.

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Smokey Quartz - June’s Birthstone

Today more than ever people tend to forgo tradition in favor of personal flair, and when it comes to choosing a birthstone, that trend is evident. Because there are various kinds of birthstones - modern birthstones, traditional birthstones, mystical birthstones, different birthstones for different cultures - people who do not like the looks of their birthstone certainly have a choice. This is clearly true for the month of June, for which a number of birthstones have been claimed. According to the American National Association of Jewelers, Alexandrite has been the regarded the official birthstone for June since 1912. But Pearl, Moonstone and even Opal have been named June birthstones as well. And more recently, Smokey Quartz has become a popular choice.

Alexandrite was named after the Russian czar Alexander II, it’s discovery supposedly occurring in the Ural Mountains of Russia on either the day of his birth, or his coming of age. Alexandrite is a variety of the mineral Chrysoberyl, a very hard and rare gemstone. So rare, in fact, that genuine Alexandrite is very scarce and hardly ever used in modern jewelry making.

Consequently, either synthetic Alexandrite or alternate genuine gemstones such as Smokey Quartz, which resemble Alexandrite, are typically used as the birthstone for the month of June.

Smokey Quartz is a translucent brown quartz that, because of its peculiar faceted cuts, is often found in rock shops and used in the creation of ornamental figurines and jewelry. One of the sources of natural Smokey Quartz happens to be nearby in the Pikes Peak area of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains.

Throughout history, the abundance of quartz has led to its use as alternate for more expensive gemstones. Because of its wide variety of colors and types, quartz has become a favorite of jewelry designers. Rose Quartz, Tiger Eye, Rock Crystal and Smokey Quartz are but a few of the varieties commonly selected for their affordable price. Bearing a Mohs’ Hardness of 7 and a unique trigonal crystal system, quartz is a spectacular stone. Alexandrite, and therefore Smokey Quartz is used to celebrate the 55th wedding anniversary and is used as an alternate for the 15th wedding anniversary, while Smokey Quartz itself is used as an alternate for the 70th wedding anniversary.

If your birthday is in June, consider a Black Hills Gold Birthstone Ring with Smokey Quartz for the month of June, from Landstroms!