Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Mount Rushmore
Four presidents, Washington, Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Lincoln, carved into a granite mountainside. It is one of America's most iconic landmarks.
Each head is about 18 metres tall. The carving was overseen by Gutzon Borglum between 1927 and 1941. You can take a frontal photo from the main viewing terrace. Along the roughly 1 km Presidential Trail you can look up at the sculpture from close range. The sculptor's studio and the museum tell the story of the engineering. Entry is free, but parking costs about 10 US dollars and is valid for the year. The evening lighting ceremony in summer is worth staying for. The site is about 40 km from Rapid City, a 40-minute drive.
Opening hours
Open all day; facilities approx. 08:00–21:00 (summer)
Nearby sights
- Keystone
- Black Elk Peak
- Cathedral Spires
- Needles Eye Tunnel
- Sylvan Lake
- Hill City & 1880 Train
- Custer State Park
- Crazy Horse Memorial