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Mt Rushmore
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Mount Rushmore National Monument

Majestic figures of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, surrounded by the beauty of the Black Hills of South Dakota, Mount Rushmore National Memorial tells the story of the birth, growth, development and preservation of this country. A visit to Mount Rushmore will make any American feel patriotic and get a sense as to why this Country is great.

Situated in western South Dakota, Mount Rushmore is surrounded by other nearby places to see. Check out our featured tour of this other corner of the “Old West” that will include visits to Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, Deadwood, and more, for an unforgettable time experiencing this timeless area.

Mount Rushmore National Monument in photographs

Mt. Rushmore
Evening Lighting Ceremony at Mount Rushmore
Mt Rushmore
Deadwood, South Dakota
Buffalo herd, Custer State Park
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Planning a trip to Mount Rushmore National Monument

The carving took from 1927 to 1941 under Gutzon Borglum, and most of it was done with dynamite rather than with tools — around 90 percent of the granite removed was blasted off. Each of the four faces is about sixty feet from chin to hairline.

There is no entry fee for the memorial itself, but parking is charged and the ticket is valid for the rest of the calendar year. The Presidential Trail is a short loop below the faces and is the only way to get near them.

In season there is an evening lighting ceremony at the amphitheatre. It is the reason a lot of visits are timed for late afternoon rather than the middle of the day, when the light is flat on the faces and the car park is at its fullest.

The memorial is in the Black Hills about half an hour from Rapid City, and within an easy drive of Custer State Park, the Needles Highway and Crazy Horse — which is how most itineraries string them together.