Are These Really Our Founding People?
Written: Nov 18 '04
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Pros: An amazing feat created in stone; beautiful park; well maintained.
Cons: Just my political views- I know why these 4 but WHY these 4?
The Bottom Line: Mount Rushmore is a great destination for all ages. It is well done and the carvings are magnificent.
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| jo.com's Full Review: Mount Rushmore National Memorial |
On a Friday in late July 2004 we went to Mount Rushmore.
General information:
I really had no idea what to expect and was in awe as we came near this National Memorial because one carved face that of George Washington could be seen from a distance. It was a great introduction. We had stopped at one of the two overlooks where Mount Rushmore can be seen 24 hours a day. This overlook is one-half miles west of the memorial parking lot on State Highway 244. There is a small parking area with a wayside exhibit which tells about the carving. The Norbeck Scenic Overlook on Iron Mountain Road also offers great views.
Mount Rushmore is a national memorial representing the first 150 years of American History. George Washington represented the birth of our country. Thomas Jefferson symbolized expansion both in the words of the Declaration of Independence and later in the expansion of our nation through the Louisiana Purchase. Preservation of the union and a nation where all were free and equal was at the heart of Abraham Lincoln. Many wonder (including us) why Theodore Roosevelt was chosen. As it is told he represented the development of our country.
Mount Rushmore is open year round except Christmas Day. The hours are 8:00 am - 10:00 pm in the summer and 8:00 am - 5:00 pm in the winter. There is no fee to get in however there is an $8.00 fee to park in the garage. (If you have bikes on your car roof the garage has an open top level.) National Park passes are not good for the parking garage.
Mount Rushmore is in Keystone, South Dakota, 25 miles southwest of Rapid City via U.S 16 and 3 miles from Keystone via U.S 16A and S.Dak. 244. It was not hard to find!
Although their material says that all facilities are accessible for the mobility impaired the trail I mention below has stairs. Most park grounds and exhibits are accessible to people with disabilities but as I said you will need help or forgo some of the trail. There is a lower level and accommodations can be made to access this area. Braille and large-print copies of park brochure are available upon request. The dining facility and gift shop/bookstore (The larger of the two has wonderful gifts not only books- we bought t-shirts, a bell, a poster for a friend and a book.) are wheelchair accessible.
What we did and our experiences:
Our first stop was at the information center and bookstore (There are two bookstores (gift shops)– this one is the smaller of the two.) where very nice staff helped us with our questions and where we got our National Park Passport stamped. One very important suggestion they made was to go back to our car and get jackets. No matter how warm the day, you will be there until 10:00 pm I can almost promise you. It gets surprising cool and you’ll be glad you have something warm to wear. This center is open the same hours as the park.
From there we (and you) will walk through the Avenue of Flags. This is a walkway of all the flags of the states. They are arranged in alphabetical order. The date of incorporation is on the structure that holds the flag. For example we read 1788 on the Massachusetts flag.
You will then want to go into the Lincoln Borglum Museum. You’ll find exhibits on the carving of Mount Rushmore, the presidents, the sculptor, the workers and the history of the United States. I found the pictures and quotes wonderful. Don’t miss going into this Museum. It is small; museum doesn't really depict the fact that it is a large hallway. There are interactive TVs where children could pick a square and it would show a piece of the granite being dynamited.
Go into one of the two very nice theaters each of which holds 125 people to see a 13-minute orientation film of the memorial. It is called Mount Rushmore- The Shrine, narrated by Tom Brokaw and worth the stop. You will learn all the hows, whens and whys. You will also find an information desk, restrooms and a larger bookstore.
There were quite a few people here on this particular day. I would say it was crowded though not so crowded that we couldn’t see exhibits or that the trail mentioned below was difficult to walk on because of so many people.
There is a children’s program here at 2:00 pm with a ranger talking to kids about Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills.
The main loop of the park is called the Presidential Trail. This is a short .5 mile trail. Trail isn’t really the correct word either. It is a beautiful wooden boardwalk with benches to sit on and amazing views of the faces from every angle. There are many close up views though at no time are you at all "eye to eye" with the faces. In fact there are viewing scopes. It would be a good idea to bring binoculars to get a real close up of these faces.
The loop has 240 steps on one side and 140 on the other. The 140 are stone and not as smooth but less strenuous. There is a warning that it is strenuous but it really wasn’t. So I would recommend going up the 240 steps and down the 140 – believe it or not I think that is the easier way. The “trail” continues down via a series of staircases to the Sculptor’s Studio. The sculptor’s studio, which is closed in the winter, shows models and tools used in the carving process. There are programs here every hour on the half hour from 9:30 am – 5:30 pm with a ranger demonstrating the tools. The Studio is open from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm.
There is a Presidential Trail talk by a ranger at 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 1:30 pm, 2:30 pm, 3:30 pm, and 4:30 pm. You can walk with the ranger along the Presidential Trail for 30 minutes to learn why Gutzon Borglum chose these four faces.
Last but not least you will want to (You really must) stay for the Evening Lighting Ceremony.
The sculpture is illuminated nightly year round. From May-August a lighting program is held in the park’s huge 3,000 person amphitheater at 9:00 pm. It was full. Get there a bit early. There were more than 3,000 people there so some stood. In September it begins at 8:00 pm and from October through April it is illuminated at dusk but there is no program.
The program consists of a brief (15 minute) ranger talk. The night we were there she talked about sacrifice and focused on Lincoln. Then there is a 20 minute video called “Freedom: America’s Lasting Legacy” and finally the sculpture gets lit as the National Anthem plays. Even a radical like myself who believes that Columbus did not discover America and that Native Americans should be the ones carved in stone (Though the Crazy Horse Memorial should be done sometime in this century -it was started over 50 years ago.) as the first founders of our country – that’s an essay I’ll leave on the back burner. (Couldn’t help editorializing!) At the end we were asked to stand and sing America, and then Boy Scouts and firefighters took down the flag. This Evening Lighting Ceremony lasts for 30 minutes leaving just enough time to go into the ice cream/fudge store which is connected to the dining room run by Xanterra Parks and Resorts.
Other information:
Pets are not allowed in the developed areas of the memorial. There are pet exercise areas and it is suggested that you then take your pet to the car. That makes me really uncomfortable but the literature lists kennels where you can leave your pet if you have to. We were in an RV so Hanna spent the day there. Picking up rocks, plants and feeding wildlife are prohibited as is smoking. You must stay on established walking trails. Climbing Mount Rushmore is prohibited. There are climbing opportunities in the memorial on other rock outcrops. You can get a climbing brochure about that at the Information Center. Camping is not allowed.
Jo’s Final Thoughts:
We spent about 4 hours total here and feel we did justice to Mount Rushmore National Memorial. If you have more time and are with children you might want to go to every ranger led talk. We did not so 3-4 hours will be enough time.
I am so glad we went. I’m not exactly sure why given my politics but I think if nothing else the enormity of the work involved in carving these 4 faces is amazing. I focused more on that than I did the people behind the faces truthfully. Depending on your feelings you will take away various thoughts and emotions.
This is a wonderful destination and one I would highly recommend no matter what your age. Small children will enjoy it though I would say children under 5 will not have any understanding of what they are seeing so bring some toys for them or buy something in the gift/bookstore to keep them busy.
Feel free to leave a question or comment.
I am keeping track of the reviews I am writing chronicling our 3-month cross country trip:
Applebee's in Ohio
Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky
Bella Notte This is a restaurant in Lexington, Kentucky
Buckstaff Bathhouse in Hot Springs, Arkansas
Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas
Bicentennial Mall State Park in Nashville, TN
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, TN
Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN
National Civil Right Museum in Memphis, TN
Graceland in Memphis, TN
Rum Boogie Cafe in Memphis, TN
National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma
Souper Salad in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Petroglyph National Monumentin Albuquerque, New Mexico
Taste of Thai a San Diego restaurant
Handlery Hotel in San Diego, CA
Sheraton Gateway Hotel in Los Angeles, CA
Kan Zam restaurant in San Francisco, CA
Polker’s Gourmet Burgers in San Francisco
Holiday Inn Express in San Francisco, CA
Hanzell Vineyards in Sonoma, CA
Antelope Island State Park in Salt Lake City, Utah
Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah
Montreal Holcaust Museum
Recommended:
Yes
Best time to go: June-August
Recommended for: Anybody
Review Topic: Overview
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