Mount Rushmore National Memorial Custom Search Mount Rushmore memorializes the birth, growth, preservation and development of the United States of America. Between 1927 and 1941, Gutzon Borglum and 400 workers sculpted the 60-foot busts of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln to represent the first 150 years of American history. Visitors to the memorial come primarily to view the granite sculpture itself, but also of interest is the Sculptor's Studio built under the direction of the artist, Gutzon Borglum, in 1939. Unique plaster models and tools related to the sculpting process are displayed there. Recently, ten years of redevelopment work culminated with the completion of extensive new visitor facilities. These include a new Visitor Center and Museum and the Presidential Trail, a walking trail and boardwalk providing spectacular close-up views of the mountain sculpture. The memorial serves as home to many animals and plants representative of the Black Hills of South Dakota. The geologic formations of the heart of the Black Hills region are also evident at Mount Rushmore, including large outcrops of granite and mica schist.     CONTACTS Email - Jim_Popovich@nps.gov Fax- 605-574-2307 Write to PO Box 268 Keystone, SD 57751-0268 Phone Headquarters - 605-574-2523 Visitor Information Recorded Message - 605-574-3171 TRAVEL BASICS Operating Hours, Seasons Memorial and visitor services are open all year. However, visitor services are closed December 25. Please inquire for times not listed in Facilities section of this site. Getting There PLANE - Rapid City Regional Airport: 35 miles from memorial in Rapid City, SD. CAR - Visitors traveling on I-90 should exit at Rapid City and follow Highway 16 southwest to Keystone and then Highway 244 to Mount Rushmore. Visitors coming from the south should follow Highway 385 north to Highway 244, which is the road leading to the memorial. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - Rental cars or private tour companies can bring visitors to the memorial from Rapid City, SD. Personal vehicles are the most common form of transportation. No public transportation options exist. Weather & Climate Warm days and cool nights are common in the summer, but July and August are typically hot. Moderate temperatures usually prevail in the winter months with some below zero temperatures. Afternoon thunderstorms in the summer may bring damaging hail and on occasion fog will obscure any view of the memorial. Snow may fall as early as September and may last until mid-May. Layered clothing is recommended along with comfortable walking shoes. Accessibility All facilities at Mount Rushmore National Memorial are accessible for the mobility impaired. Closed captioning of all films is provided. Braille and large-print copies of park brochure are available upon request. Getting Around Mount Rushmore National Memorial facilities are concentrated in a central area with pedestrian access from parking. Plan on at least a 2 hour stay to fully enjoy the memorial. FACILITIES AVENUE OF FLAGS Open All Year Location - Between the Grandview Terrace and the concession area. Exhibits - Outdoor display of the 56 state, territory, commonwealth and district flags of the United States of America. Each flag is described by the date the unit was admitted to the union. LINCOLN BORGLUM MUSEUM Open All Year Summer 8:00 am - 10:00 pm Spring & Fall please inquire for times Winter  8:00 am - 5:00 pm Phone - 605-574-3165 Location - Located 700 feet from the parking structure via the Avenue of Flags. Visitor Center is beneath the Grand View Terrace and is accessible by elevator or stairs. Closures - Spring and Fall Hours may vary. Closed December 25. Special Programs - Evening Lighting Ceremony: A 30 minute ranger presentation that concludes with the illumination of the sculpture. Presidential Walk: A 30 minute ranger-led activity that takes you to the base of the sculpture and reveals more about the men portrayed on the mountain. Children's Program: a half hour series of ranger-led activities for children age 6-10 years old. Parents must accompany children during program. Check at Visitor Center desk for current program schedule. Exhibits - Permanent exhibits include: interactive displays about the artist, Gutzon Borglum, and the workers involved in creating the sculpture; historical film footage of the carving; original models and tools used in the making of Mount Rushmore. Other exhibits highlight the selection of the presidents, memorial dedication ceremonies, preservation of the sculpture and Mount Rushmore in popular culture. Temporary Exhibit: A reproduction of George Washington's Commission from the Continental Congress to be 'General and Commander in chief of the army of the United Colonies.' Available Facilities - Theater: Showing 'The Shrine', a short orientation film about Mount Rushmore. Presented every 20 minutes and closed captioned for the hearing impaired. Information Desk: staffed by rangers. Bookstore: operated by the Mount Rushmore History Association, provides books, videos and other educational materials. Restrooms, telephones and drinking fountains available. MOUNT RUSHMORE INFORMATION CENTER Summer 8:00 am - 10:00 pm Spring & Fall please inquire for times Winter  8:00 am - 5:00 pm Phone - 605-574-3198 Location - Located at the entrance to the memorial from the parking structure. Closures - Spring and fall hours may vary. Closed December 25. Exhibits - Historic photos of each president on Mount Rushmore taken during construction. Exhibit covering the construction of the memorial. Available Facilities - Information Desk: staffed by rangers. Provides orientation to Mount Rushmore and the surrounding Black Hills area. Restrooms, telephones and soda machines are available in the building opposite the Information Center. SCULPTOR'S STUDIO Location - Located adjacent to remote parking area. Access from Grand View Terrace atop Visitor Center is by .2 mile trail that descends 135 stairs. Closures - Spring and fall hours may vary. Closed for the winter. Special Programs - Studio Talk: a 15 minute ranger presentation on the mountain carving process. Summer only. Daily talks every hour on the half hour. Exhibits - The studio itself is an historic structure built in 1939 as the second on-site studio for sculptor Gutzon Borglum. Sculptor's Model: Gutzon Borglum's original 1/12 scale model used to create the memorial. Hall of Records Model: a model depicting the concept of the unfinished Hall of Records. Includes explanation of the artist's intent and how it has recently been fulfilled. Other displays include original tools and plaster mask used by workers. Available Facilities - Handicap access is via remote parking area. Studio staffed by rangers during open hours. No restroom facilities available in studio. VISITOR SERVICES Open All Year please inquire for times on specific dates Phone - (605) 574-2515 Location - Located between the parking structure and the Grand View Terrace at Mount Rushmore. Closures - Spring and fall hours may vary. Closed December 25. Available Facilities - Food services include: restaurant, snack shop and fudge & ice cream shop. Gift shop. Services provided by AmFac Parks and Resorts.   Map Detailed Map Contact Info Phone, Email, Address, GPS coordinates Campgrounds Nearby List of Nearby Campgrounds Weather Local weather forecast These outdoors activities are available near Mount Rushmore National Memorial.   Campgrounds Near Mount Rushmore National Memorial: Strato Rim Overlook Campground, Pennington County, 2 miles away Rushmore Shadows Resort, Rapid City, 3 miles away Mystery Mountain Resort, Rapid City, 4 miles away Battle Creek Campgrounds, Keystone, 5 miles away Buffalo Billy's Campground, Keystone, 5 miles away Miners RV Park, Keystone, 5 miles away Rushmore Resort and Campground, Keystone, 5 miles away   Marinas Near Mount Rushmore National Memorial: Sheridan Lake Marina, Rapid City , 9 miles away Pactola Pines Marina, Rapid City , 11 miles away   Hotels Near Mount Rushmore National Memorial: Econo Lodge Mt. Rushmore Memorial, Keystone , 4 miles away Roosevelt Inn, Keystone , 4 miles away Elk Ridge Bed & Breakfast, Keystone , 5 miles away Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites KEYSTONE, Keystone , 5 miles away Travelodge Mt. Rushmore/Keystone, Keystone , 5 miles away Keystone Boardwalk Inn and Suites, Keystone , 5 miles away Super 8 Keystone/Mt. Rushmore, Keystone , 5 miles away   Trails Near Mount Rushmore National Memorial: Flume Trail, Pennington County , 4 miles away Iron Creek Trail, Custer County , 6 miles away Iron Mountain Trail, Custer County , 7 miles away Blackberry Trail, Pennington County , 9 miles away Horse Thief Lake Trail, Pennington County , 9 miles away   Ski Areas Near Mount Rushmore National Memorial: Terry Peak, South Dakota , 39 miles away, 1100 foot drop, 6 lifts, 24 runs   Whitewater Near Mount Rushmore National Memorial: Battle Creek, Pennington County , 0 miles away, Class III-IV(V) - 4 miles long (Harney to Hayward) Rapid Creek, Pennington County , 15 miles away, Class II - -blank- miles long (Pactola spillway to Johnson Siding) Rapid Creek, Pennington County , 15 miles away, Class II+ - 3 miles long (Johnson Siding to Big Bend) Rapid Creek, Pennington County , 15 miles away, Class III - 8 miles long (Heisga to Dark Canyon) Rapid Creek, Pennington County , 15 miles away, Class II(III) - 3 miles long (Big Bend to Hiesga)   Public Lands Near Mount Rushmore National Memorial: Jewel Cave National Monument, Custer - SD , 19 miles away Wind Cave National Park, Hot Springs - SD , 27 miles away Custer State Park, South Dakota , 3 miles away Bear Butte State Park, South Dakota , 28 miles away Angostura Recreation Area, South Dakota , 29 miles away Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve, South Dakota , 31 miles away   Golf Courses Near Mount Rushmore National Memorial: Hart Ranch Development CO Golf Course, Rapid City , 6 miles away The Golf Club at Red Rock, Rapid City , 6 miles away World Class Golf, Rapid City , 8 miles away Meadowbrook Golf Course, Rapid City , 8 miles away Arrowhead Country Club, Rapid City , 8 miles away   Lakes Near Mount Rushmore National Memorial Sheridan Lake, Pennington County , 7 miles away Bismark Lake, Custer County , 13 miles away Dalton Lake, Lawrence County , 16 miles away