Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Written: Oct 03 '02 (Updated May 17 '05)
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Pros: Awesome site!!
Cons: Main viewing area is not close enough
The Bottom Line: This is a beautiful memorial dedicated to four great presidents. Do them honour and yourself a favor. See it!!
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| popsrocks's Full Review: Mount Rushmore National Memorial |
TRAVELING the BLACK HILLS
Back in 1993 my wife and I were camping in Badlands National Park with four of our children and a friend. This is a park of beautiful colours and natural sculpted rock and should not to be missed. Going further west we arrived at Mount Rushmore. This is all in the Black Hills of South Dakota. I believe "Rocky Raccoon" is from around here some where. This is beautiful country. Wind Cave National Park is also nearby and great way to see the earth from a differerent perspective.
While traveling west we passed and were passed by many Bikers. We had started seeing them earlier in the week as we crossed the Mississippi River, but then we started seeing more and more as we traveled west. We found out that they were all headed for a huge annual summer rally at nearby town of Sturgess.
WHO IS THAT ?
As we neared the area we were overwhelmed by the awesome site of George Washington's head coming out from behind a mountain side. We pulled off to the side of the road and took a couple of pictures. It was very cool!
We then continued to the site. We parked our car. I understand that there is now a parking fee. I do know that there may be the usual entree fee to the National Parks, monuments, and historic sites. If you have an Eagle pass or one of the other passes this takes care of the entree but not parking. Hold it !! Just in !! There is parking fee of eight dollars and there is no entry fee. Still, I strongly recommend getting a yearly pass if you are going to see more that two or three parks.
THE SITE
From the parking lot you walk up a hill to the views of flags of all our states blowing in the wind. I took pictures of them against the clear blue sky. They look spectacular.
This leads you to the open and protected viewing areas. This was newly done when we visited. It was very clean and welcoming. It was also very crowded! In the summer that's what you will find but it doesn't take away from your view of the majestic sculptures in the distance. They truly are works of art and beauty.
Let me introduce you to the four gentleman on the mountain. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt. All were great men who became presidents and led our country in different ways.
OK, Wait!! If these are the names of the men on the mountain then why is it called Rushmore? It seems in 1885 there was a gentleman to was sent to the Black Hills to inspect mining claims. They liked him and named a mountain in his honour. His name was Charles Rushmore. "And now you know the rest of .............."
Lined up along the viewing wall are the coin operated binoculars. Use them or better yet don't forget yours in your car. Bring them along with a camera.
MY LITTLE TREASURE
Here as in many of the places we visited were many of the bikers in the area for the rally. Yes, bikers are people too. And yes, they do go to historic sites. I think my younger kids, five and seven at the time were surprised to see that. To me they were a perfect photo op.
There was a group standing and talking together. I asked if I could get my picture taken with them. They obliged. I have a treasure of a photo now. It is of about ten big tough looking guys all in their black leathers and gear standing around me in my white shorts and colourful shirt and big toothy smile, with George, and guys in the background. I love it!
SEE MORE
To get a closer view of the sculpture you can take a mile and a half easy to moderate walk on a boardwalk. We didn't do it, wish we had, we were on a time table that day.I would have liked to see them closer, like when we saw George Washingtons head from the road.
When finished viewing there is more to do. Visit the Sculptors Studio. It's a little out of the way but worth the stop. You can learn more about and see work of Gutzon Borglum. He was the man who spearheaded the project after getting involved in 1924. He suggested George Washington's name to help create interest.
DID YOU KNOW ?
Did you know that along with the busts there was to be an inscription on the mountainside ? That's a fact. Mr Borglum actually had a contest and people wrote what they thought should be on it. President Calvin Coolidge also submitted his thoughts. All were disreguarded including the presidents submission. That caused a falling out between the two men but the work continued until 1941. World War Two delayed the efforts and afterward there wasn't the same interest or funds.
Work stopped and it is pretty much how it remains today. It's not finished! Or not to what the original design was. It was to have more work under the heads, from the shoulders up. More detail. The rock debris was also to be cleaned up. It is my feeling that it is a wonder just the way it is.
MORE TO SEE
Don't forget to see the short film giving some other facts and history of the undertaking. The old photos of men hanging from lines with jackhammers and blasting were very interesting and helps give scale to the immense project. A man can stand inside the eyeball of any of the busts. That's how big it is!
In the viewing area you will find another inside viewing spot that is heated for those cold months. There are some brisk winds that are in the area too. You will find restrooms, a restaurant, and a gift shop. Here you can get your National Parks Passport inked and canceled. This is a wonderful way of "collecting parks" For more information just click on my name and look for "Passport to the National Parks, All you may want to know." The Passport system is a wonderful way to get the kids, and adults, interested and enthusiastic about our great national treasures.
There is also the Junior Ranger program for the kids. Most sites have something going on for the kids. Be sure to ask about one of the ranger walks or talks. I understand that every evening at dusk a ranger gives a talk and then at the end of it the mountain and the figures are illuminated.
ANOTHER, DID YOU KNOW ?
Another interesting fact, not told at the site, that I saw, is that Alfred Hitchcock wanted to film the thrilling chase scene at the end of his movie West by NorthWest at and on the memorial. After talks with those in charge at the time failed he built Mount Rushmore "Hollywood Style". He built it on a sound stage and the film was done. It is still one of the most thrilling chase scenes of all movies made to date! You feel like you are standing on the heads etc!!
LOOKING BACK
After leaving we continued on through Custer State Park. This is another must see area with more camping available. While traveling away from Mount Rushmore be sure to stop at a turnoff on the far side of one of the holes blasted in the rock to open for the road. If you look back you will see Mount Rushmore in the distance. And it still looks awesome!!
summer hours 8:00am till 10:00pm
winter hours 8:00am till 5:00 pm
winter and spring call for detail
closed Christmas
get times for individual buildings. Some of the studios etc have different hours
www.nps.gov/moru/
A Biography about Theodore Roosevelt
Mornings on Horseback
Two other nearby National Sites in the Black Hills area of South Dakota
Badlands National Park
Wind Cave National Park
Other National Parks Popsrocks has been to
.Acadia National Park My favorite National Park !!
.Biscayne National Park Great snorkeling
.Bryce Canyon National Park Home of the Hoo Doo
.Death Valley National Park Not so Hot
.Dry Tortugas National Park A unique Island Fort with snorkeling
.Everglades National Park A safari in Florida
Grand Canyon National park The North Rim
Virgin Islands National Park WOW !!!! But don't tell anyone about it.
Zion National Park Amazing diversity!
National Parks Passport
.Collect National Parks
National Parks System
Our National Parks
9/11, A Tribute A day at ground zero
http://www.epinions.com/content_3161628804
New York CityMy Home town
New OrleansThis is some fun place!
LondonGreat sites Fantastic people!
BathSo much history in one town.
RomeWOW!!
VeniceA romantic favorite
MY favorite Map.
2005 American Map Road Atlas: Large Scale - Large Type
Recommended:
Yes
Best time to go: Anytime
Recommended for: Anybody
Review Topic: Overview
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