The Majesty of Mt. Rushmore
16 June | Rebecca Jones
Mount Rushmore in Keystone, South Dakota is one of the locations that most Americans have on their bucket list. I was fortunate enough to live in the Black Hill for five years while my husband was stationed there, but my family recently took a trip back to this gorgeous area to show our kids where they were born.
When you visit this landmark, I suggest arriving early in the morning for fewer people. The area starts getting crowded by 9:00am, so for the best photos, get there as early as you can. For an alternative, arrive a couple hours before sunset, and enjoy the cooler temperatures and the night show. Each evening, there is a movie displayed in the amphitheater, then the monument is lit for the night. It’s an experience that fills up quickly, so get most of your exploring in, grab some ice cream, and find a seat while they are still available. It can become standing room only the closer you get to sunset.
When you walk into the landmark, you’ll be on the Grand View Terrace. To your left is the information center and bookshop, while to your right is the Carvers Café. This is the only dining facility within the park. I definitely recommend leaving room for ice cream, though.
While walking toward the mountain, you’ll be greeted by a walkway lined with flags from all the states and territories of the United States. Even my teenagers wanted to find the flags of the states we’ve lived in.
Under the Grand View Terrace, you’ll find the Borglum Visitor Center. There are two short films and a walk-through exhibit about the history of the monument. It includes short biographies of each president featured, as well as in-depth information about how the sculptors blasted the mountain to create what we see today. You will find equipment they used, videos of blasts, and park rangers who will answer just about any questions you have. They also have a junior ranger program for the younger members of your family.
There is a walkway, called the Presidential Trail, that will take you closer to the monument. According to their website, it is 0.6 miles long with 422 steps. My family enjoyed doing this after we visited the Sculptor’s Studio and listened to a short talk from one of the park rangers. You can also see a 1/12th scale model of the sculpture that they used to create the larger one on the mountain in the studio.
All in all, Mt Rushmore, and the entire Black Hills area, is something everyone should see. You can spend as little as an hour here, or as long as 3-4 hours, depending on how much of the museums and trails you really dive into.
For assistance planning your next family vacation, call your favorite Wishes Family Travel agent. If you don’t have one, I’d love to work for you. I can be reached at (325) 733-8399 or Rebecca@WishesFamilyTravel.com.