Rushmore National Memorial is Coon Hollow, and after a long day outdoors Econo Lodge Mt. Rushmore Memorial is a magnificent location to spend a night or two. Going to Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a great idea when you have to get out. At Mount Rushmore National Memorial
you find plenty of outdoors recreation, so you could have plenty of fun. Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a charming sector of wilderness that is popular with folks from far and wide. There's great hiking along the Horse Thief Lake Trail. Rockerville Gulch is right next
door to Mount Rushmore National Memorial and is a good place; going for a hike on the Iron Creek Trail is always a great adventure. There is a nice hiking trail close to Mount Rushmore National Memorial called the Flume Trail; Mount Rushmore National Memorial is perfect enough
to spend more than a day at, Mystery Mountain Resort is a perfect local campground.
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. FEES/PERMITS
Special
Use Permits PARKING FEE $8.00 for Annual The parking fee is valid for the entire calendar year in which it is purchased. This is not a Federal entrance fee, so National Park Passes, Golden Age, Access and Eagle Passports are not accepted for parking. Limited
free parking is available on a first come-first served basis. Motorhomes, buses and vehicles with trailers can not be accomodated in free parking. Bus parking fee: $25 for a 24 hour time period.
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.
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