Building 31, Ste. 13, 1300 Hwy 244, Keystone, SD 57751-0268
Phone: 605-574-2523 or 605-574-3171
Fax: 605-574-2307
Open All Year
Overview. "There is not a monument in this country as big as a snuff box" as far as sculptor Gutzon Borglum was concerned, and he was determined to give the U.S. the memorial it deserved. In 1927, he began carving the heads of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt into an outcropping of granite atop Mount Rushmore in South Dakota's Black Hills. By the time his son, Lincoln, completed the sculpture in 1941, each 60-foot-high face was complete with a 20-foot-long nose, eyes that reached 11 feet across, and an 18-foot-long mouth. Borglum would have to agree: this massive memorial is much, much larger than a snuff box.
One of the most recognizable sculptures on earth, Mount Rushmore's "Shrine to Democracy" honors both the vision of its subjects, who shaped a nation, and the determination of Gutzon Borglum, who never lived to see his colossal effort completed. Although entrance to the memorial is free, there is an $8 parking fee.
What to see and do. Stop by the information center to acquaint yourself with opportunities at the memorial and other activities found throughout the Black Hills. Visit the Lincoln Borglum Museum directly below the Grand View Terrace where exhibits tell the story of how and why the memorial was carved. A 13-minute film, Mount Rushmore – The Shrine, is shown in twin 125-seat theaters throughout the day. Take a stroll on the one-half mile Presidential Trail that takes visitors directly below the sculpted heads.
In summer, Gutzon Borglum's sculpture studio, with its exhibits of tools and scale models, is open to the public. Each summer evening at 9 PM from Mother's Day through September 30th, you can attend an evening lighting program. The program includes the film "Freedom--America's Lasting Legacy," followed by the playing of the national anthem and the dramatic illumination of the faces. Ranger-led walks and special programs are scheduled throughout the summer. Independence Day is celebrated with bands and speeches.
The memorial is open every day of the year. The information center and the Lincoln Borglum Museum are open in summer from 8 AM to 10 PM, and in winter to 5 PM; both are closed on Christmas. There are no picnic facilities at the memorial, but there is a restaurant and gift shop.
The Mount Rushmore History Association operates bookstores in the Lincoln Borglum Museum and at the Information Center. There are no camping facilities at Mount Rushmore, but there are many opportunities for such activities close by the memorial. In addition to many private attractions, National Park areas such as Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, and the Badlands are all within an easy drive of Mount Rushmore.
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