National Memorial; Iron Creek Trail is a pleasant local trail. That right there is loads of cool things already but it goes on, the Black Hills has it all. Gold Hill is a peak you can spot from Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Keystone Boardwalk Inn and Suites is a tremendous
place to get some rest, and Mount Rushmore National Memorial is great enough to spend more than a day at, Miners RV Park is a great local campground.
All the outdoors entertaining stuff in the Black Hills will keep you coming back persistently. After a long day outdoors Roosevelt
Inn Of Keystone is a fine site to spend a night or two; you'll locate a lovely lake called Center Lake. If you need a place to stay Travelodge Mt. Rushmore/Keystone is a tremendous choice; Red Dale Gulch Reservoir is a wonderful lake close by. Mount Rushmore National Memorial has
a huge amount of natural beauty; it's a place that everybody loves.
Since you might be in a lake visiting mood you can always explore close by Lakota Lake, and you can stay the night at Battle Creek Campgrounds. The beauty of Mount Rushmore National Memorial is there for your
viewing satisfaction. There is great outdoors recreation at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, so you can enjoy yourself while here.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial is pretty dried out ordinarily; the wettest month of the year is mostly June, that's the one that rains the most
while January is typically the driest month.
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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