My guess is you’ve heard of and are somewhat familiar with Mount Rushmore.
A few things surprised me about our visit: The parking garage, the condition of the visitor center, and the walkways throughout were impeccable. Clearly, they were relatively new but still very well maintained. And the fact that it was only $11/carload (technically, for parking) was absolutely the deal of the week.
Of course we did the required viewing from the main observation area and took plenty of pictures. Hannah absolutely insisted on getting a picture with her head as the fifth member of the memorial.
We also partook in the 30-minute Ranger Walk which took us to the base of the mountain. Although you can walk the same paths yourself, the addition of the guide makes it a little more interesting and you learn a bit of history along the way. The paths take you as close to the monument as you can get, and there are only a few stairs unless you want to hoof it to the Sculptor’s Studio. Hannah and I opted to walk the full loop and view the 1/12 scale model of the sculpture that was used as a guide. I sort of remember that George was supposed to have nearly a full coat and all but Teddy were supposed to show a hand. Obviously, all that made it into the final memorial were their heads (and a bit of George’s coat).
And like all good tourist attractions, they had ice cream. I’ve been pretty good up until now when I caved. Obviously, the Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a must-see.
(Link to all unedited photos from Mt. Rushmore.)
Like Custer and Wind Cave, Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse are too close together to not hit them both on the same day. Fifteen minutes up the road is the Crazy Horse Memorial, the world’s largest mountain carving. This privately funded effort is unique in that we usually only see the profile, but it is really a carving in the round. Crazy Horse and his horse will have 3 sides exposed when complete. I vaguely remember visiting the memorial as a kid and there was only the pointing arm portion to look at – really nothing to the naked eye. The decade of the 90’s saw the completion of the face which really gives perspective to the entire project. Compared to the publicly funded Mt. Rushmore, this private effort is moving much more slowly. It’s a family project being coordinated by the original sculptor’s family as commissioned by the Lakota tribe. By design, it will remain a private endeavor forever. I also didn’t know that the sculpture will be the focal point of a much larger community that will encompass the grounds between the monument and the visitor center. While I don’t remember everything, the master plan includes schools, research facilities, and a lot more.
The grounds right now contain a welcome center, an Indian museum, a restaurant, and a gift shop. At $27/carload it’s quite a bit more than Rushmore, but still probably worth the 2-4 hours you will spend there.
(Link to all unedited photos from Crazy Horse.)
Along this stretch of road you will see high granite “needles” as you twist and turn through a portion of the Black Hills. The Needles Highway offers spectacular views, winding roads, several tight tunnels, and opportunities to get out and climb on the rocks. Thanks to the rest stop guide as we first entered South Dakota, we knew there were a couple of spots along the highway where, through a tunnel, we would be able to see Mt. Rushmore. Sure enough, here it is:
Since you have to get from one place to another along some route, be sure to add Needles Highway to your list.
(Link to all unedited photos from Needles Highway.)
Very insightful. Taking first trip to Crazy Horse and Mt. Rushmore in September.