Mount Rushmore

https://www.nps.gov/moru/index.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Rushmore Mount Rushmore National Memorial is centered on a sculpture carved into the granite face of Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills in Keystone, South Dakota. Sculptor Gutzon Borglum created the sculpture's design and oversaw the project's execution from 1927 to 1941 with the help of his son Lincoln Borglum. The sculpture features the 60-foot (18 m) heads of Presidents George Washington (1732–1799), Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919), and Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865). Majestic figures of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, surrounded by the beauty of the Black Hills of South Dakota, tell the story of the birth, growth, development and preservation of this country. From the history of the first inhabitants to the diversity of America today, Mount Rushmore brings visitors face to face with the rich heritage we all share. Visitors traveling by car from the East use Exit 61 off I-90 follow signs. Coming from the West use exit 57 exit at Rapid City and follow U.S. Highway 16 southwest to Keystone and then Highway 244 to Mount Rushmore. Visitors coming from the south should follow Highway 385 north to Highway 244, which is the road leading to the memorial. Information Center Find basic information about the memorial as well as information about the local area. Opens at 8:00 am daily (closed December 25th). Late May through September 30 closes at 9:00 pm. October 1 through October 31 closes at 6:00pm. November 1 through late May closes at 5:00pm. From the parking structure, walk towards the mountain sculpture. The Information Center is the first building on your right after you pass through the first set of columns, directly across from the main restrooms. Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center Park information, film, museum exhibits and a bookstore. Opens at 8:00 am daily (closed December 25th). Late May through mid-August closes at 10:00 pm. Mid-August through September 30 closes at 9:00 pm. October 1 through October 31 closes at 6:00pm. November 1 through late May closes at 5:00pm. From the parking structure walk towards the mountain sculpture until you reach the Grand View Terrace. The Visitor Center is below the terrace. Stairs or elevators to the left or right will take you down to the Visitor Center. Stairs are often closed during the winter due to snow. Mount Rushmore Summer Sky Photo of Mount Rushmore under a bright blue sky with puffy clouds floating over. Photo of Mount Rushmore under a bright blue sky with puffy clouds floating over. Mount Rushmore and the Avenue of Flags Visitors walking along the Avenue of Flags with Mount Rushmore in the background. Visitors walking along the Avenue of Flags with Mount Rushmore in the background. Mount Rushmore Through the Trees Mount Rushmore viewed from a distance through ponderosa pine trees. Mount Rushmore viewed from a distance through ponderosa pine trees. Closeup of Mount Rushmore Closeup photo of Mount Rushmore under a bright blue sky. Closeup photo of Mount Rushmore under a bright blue sky. Mount Rushmore With Talus Slope Mount Rushmore above the talus slope, where rock removed from the mountain fell. Mount Rushmore above the talus slope, where rock removed from the mountain fell. Mount Rushmore At Night Mount Rushmore illuminated under a darkening evening sky. Mount Rushmore illuminated under a darkening evening sky. 2019 Connecting with our Homelands Awardees Hopa Mountain, in partnership with the National Park Service, is pleased to announce the 2019 awardees of the Connecting with our Homelands travel grants. Twenty-one Indigenous organizations, schools, and nonprofits have been awarded travel funds for trips to national park units across 12 states/territories within the United States. An elder and young student talk while sitting on a rock. Why These Four Presidents? Learn more about the four presidents sculpted on Mount Rushmore and why sculptor Gutzon Borglum chose them. Mount Rushmore with ponderosa pine trees in the foreground under a bright blue sky. Plant Community Monitoring at Mount Rushmore National Memorial Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a relatively small park that contains the second-largest area of old growth ponderosa pine forest in the Black Hills. There is a lower diversity of plants under the closed-canopy of pines, but these stands of old growth forest are in pristine condition. We monitor plant communities to improve understanding of the effects that external drivers and management actions have on plants in these unique ponderosa pine forest ecosystems. heart shapped leaves with ragged edges in autumn colors of reds and yellows PARKS...IN...SPAAAACE!!! NASA astronauts have quite literally an out-of-this-world view of national parks and take some pretty stellar pictures to share. Travel along with the space station on its journey west to east getting the extreme bird’s eye view of national parks across the country. And one more down-to-earth. View of Denali National Park & Preserve from space Bat Acoustic Monitoring at Mount Rushmore National Memorial Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a 1,278-acre park in the center of the Black Hills in South Dakota. The granite outcroppings and old growth ponderosa pine forest at the park provide good bat roosting habitat. The Northern Great Plains Inventory and Monitoring Network monitors bats to detect long-term trends in bat populations at this park. Silver-haired bat roosting on a tree trunk Bat Projects in Parks: Northern Great Plains Inventory and Monitoring Across six Northern Great Plains parks, education and outreach for bats was conducted. View of Badlands National Parks unique rock formations in the distance Wildland Fire: Reducing Crown Fire Potential and Mountain Pine Beetle Infestation In February 2010, staff at Mount Rushmore NM worked with Midwest Regional Office staff to prepare a plan to mitigate the impacts of potential mountain pine beetle infestation and to reduce crown fire potential. Ponderosa pine < 7-10 inches in diameter were thinned and piled for burning, or thinned and chipped. The treatments should make the forest more resilient and resistant to infestation, and expand opportunities for prescribed burns at the memorial. Using Lake Superior parks to explain the Midcontinent Rift Explaining the spectacular scenery around Lake Superior resulting from the 1.1 billion–year–old Midcontinent Rift System gives park interpreters an opportunity to discuss some of the most important processes that shape our planet and influenced the region’s settlement and growth. Kayakers paddle past sandstone rocks at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (Seth Stein) The Bull Moose in Winter: Theodore Roosevelt and World War I Roosevelt believed America should prepare for war. President Wilson wanted to keep America out of it. Theodore Roosevelt, seated NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. Links to products from Baseline Geologic and Soil Resources Inventories provide access to maps and reports. sculpture of presidents 2003 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards Recipients of the 2003 Environmental Achievement Awards Mount Rushmore Virtual Junior Ranger Activities Become a Virtual Junior Ranger by completing six Mount Rushmore related activities. Photo of Mount Rushmore under a clear blue sky with ponderosa pine branches in the foreground. Wildland Fire in Ponderosa Pine: Western United States This forest community generally exists in areas with annual rainfall of 25 inches or less. Extensive pure stands of this forest type are found in the southwestern U.S., central Washington and Oregon, southern Idaho and the Black Hills of South Dakota. Recently burned ponderosa pine forest. JROTC Students Visit Minuteman Missile National Historic Site In 2019, the National Park Service’s Washington, DC Office of Interpretation, Education and Volunteers (WASO IEV) and Kutztown University piloted a new program that brings Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) high school students and university students (majoring in history or education) to military themed park units for place-based learning experiences. In April, one of these programs was hosted at Minuteman Missile National Historic Site. A park ranger and students stand around an armored vehicle. Series: NPS Environmental Achievement Awards Since 2002, the National Park Service (NPS) has awarded Environmental Achievement (EA) Awards to recognize staff and partners in the area of environmental preservation, protection and stewardship. A vehicle charges at an Electric Vehicle charging station at Thomas Edison National Historical Park Series: Plant Community Monitoring in Northern Great Plains Network Parks Plant communities are essential components of all major ecosystems. Plants are the ultimate source of food for other organisms and the main source of organic material in soil and water. They also influence climate and provide the scenery that park visitors enjoy. The NPS Northern Great Plains Network monitors the number, identity, and relative abundance of plant species, as well as their horizontal cover and vertical structure, to determine the health of park ecosystems. Two people sitting on the ground looking at plants Large-Scale Prescribed Fire Returns to Mount Rushmore National Memorial On April 29, 2020, as part of a decade-long project to reduce the build-up of dead fuels, reduce the potential for higher severity fire, and decrease likelihood of unwanted ignitions, Mount Rushmore National Memorial successfully completed a 251-acre prescribed fire. This portion of MORU had not seen large scale fire in over 30 years. Grasses on a slope below Mount Rushmore are consumed by small flames. Mount Rushmore National Memorial Cultural Landscape Mount Rushmore National Memorial, located in the ecologically-diverse Black Hills region of South Dakota, contains features from phases of the park's development, including the monumental sculpture displaying four presidential figures. After its construction commenced in 1927, it has been both praised for its design and criticized for its environmental impact and location in the Black Hills, an area that holds cultural and spiritual value for several Native American tribes. Historic photo of a car on a winding, unpaved road through a tree-covered landscape Changing Patterns of Water Availability May Change Vegetation Composition in US National Parks Across the US, changes in water availability are altering which plants grow where. These changes are evident at a broad scale. But not all areas experience the same climate in the same way, even within the boundaries of a single national park. A new dataset gives park managers a valuable tool for understanding why vegetation has changed and how it might change in the future under different climate-change scenarios. Green, orange, and dead grey junipers in red soil, mountains in background Things to Do in South Dakota Find things to do and trip ideas in South Dakota. The setting sun illuminates several sharp ridge lines under a moon. Series: Things to Do in the Midwest There is something for everyone in the Midwest. See what makes the Great Plains great. Dip your toes in the continent's inland seas. Learn about Native American heritage and history. Paddle miles of scenic rivers and waterways. Explore the homes of former presidents. From the Civil War to Civil Rights, discover the stories that shape our journey as a nation. Steep bluff with pink sky above and yellow leaves below. 50 Nifty Finds #30: So Funny It Hurt Humor is a form of commentary that often reveals serious truths. Cartoonists combine artistic talents with razor-sharp wits to shine light on political and social issues. In most cases, those artists are external observers. In the National Park Service (NPS), employees in the 1960s to 1980s drew cartoons, published in official newsletters, that provide unique insights into NPS organizational culture, working conditions, and employees' concerns—many of which still exist today. A ranger showing a coloring book to a visitor saying that they care about children's education My Park Story: Amy McKinney Amy McKinney, museum curator, shares her personal story of why she chose museum work and how she started her NPS career. A woman wearing a gray shirt and white gloves holds up an old, framed advertisement. My Park Story: Jill Riggins Some NPS rangers don't wear a uniform or a flat hat! Find out what Jill does everyday as an Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent. A smiling woman in a black vest stands in front of Mount Rushmore National Memorial. My Park Story: Todd Grabow Read about Todd's path to landing a job at a park that holds a special place in his heart! A smiling man stands next to a red helicopter in front of a mountain range at sunset. Updated Species Database Will Help Boost Amphibian Conservation Across the National Park System To steward amphibians effectively, managers need basic information about which species live in parks. But species lists need constant maintenance to remain accurate. Due to recent efforts, the National Park Service now has an up-to-date amphibian species checklist for almost 300 parks. This information can serve as the basis for innumerable conservation efforts across the nation. A toad sits on red sand, looking into the camera. My Park Story: Alex Baker Learn about Alex's journey from starting out as a summer intern at one of the most iconic NPS sites to landing a permanent position at the same site where he is able to combine two things he loves- interpretation and inventorying. A man in a NPS straw flat hat and uniform stands in front of Mount Rushmore. How Pollinator Inventories Can Inform Park Management Decisions Pollinators play a crucial role in national park ecosystems and beyond. In the national parks, species inventories help managers know which pollinators are present, and in what abundance, to better understand the state of park ecosystems and make decisions about how to manage them. From 2024 to 2026, 17 parks across the country will be surveyed for bees and butterflies. Bee laden with pollen sits atop a purple flower. Intern Spotlight: Gia Flores-Arellano Meet Gia Flores-Arellano, a former Latino Heritage Internship Program intern at Mount Rushmore National Memorial. This summer, she will be an interpretive ranger at Olympic National Park. A woman at Mount Rushmore Project Profile: Restore Mixed Grass Prairie Ecosystems Through Leveraged Conservation Actions in Central United States The National Park Service will restore mixed grass prairie in parks in South Dakota, North Dakota, and Nebraska through planting native species on lands once used for agriculture. Restoration will include the control of invasive plants, prescribed fire, and the development of new seed sources for plants that are currently scarce in the region. Brown, rocky mountain formation against a blue sky Cub Scout Hannah Murray Volunteers at Fort Moultrie National Historical Park Meet Hannah Murray, a Cub Scout from Pack 743! She is also a youth volunteer with the National Park Service (NPS). A young girl in a blue cub scout uniform and an orange hat holds a trash bag, outside Project Profile: Produce Seed for Central Grassland Ecosystems The National Park Service will increase native seed availability for plants in the mixed grass and tallgrass prairie of the Central U.S., advancing the National Seed Strategy priorities. The project will support established relationships with academic, interagency, and Tribal partners, as well as other stakeholders for seed production. Close up view of a rye plant in a green grassland field.

Mount Rushmore Shrine of Democracy Sixty million years ago this land was in turmoil. Hills and mountains were being thrust up and gradually eroded. On the nearly indestructible granite face of one of these peaks. Mount Rushmore, the heads of four American Presidents have been carved in bold relief. These figures symbolize the birth and trials of the first 150 years of the United States. Individually they represent the ideals of the Nation. George Washington signifies the struggle for independence and the birth of the Republic, Thomas Jefferson the idea of representative government, Abraham Lincoln the permanent union of the States and equality for all citizens, and Theodore Roosevelt the 20th-century role of the United States in world affairs. The Memorial Idea In 1923 Doane Robinson, the South Dakota State historian, conceived the idea of carving colossal statues of romantic western heroes such as Jim Bridger, John Colter, and Kit Carson on the granite formations known as the Needles in the Black Hills. The proposal had only moderate public acceptance, and at times criticism of the project was severe. But Robinson was able to gain the influential support of South Dakota Senator Peter Norbeck and Representative William Williamson. Slowly public opinion changed, the memorial was authorized, and some funds were obtained to begin the work. Robinson invited the sculptor Gutzon Borglum to the Black Hills in the autumn of 1924 to study the proposal. John Gutzon de la Mothe Borglum was born in St. Charles, Idaho, on March 25, 1867. He began painting at an early age, and in his early twenties sales of his works enabled him to study art in France for several years. It was there, in 1890, that he began to sculpt. His final paintings were completed in 1903. and from that time on he These three photographs show steps in the art of "mountain carving". After blasting with dynamite, workers scramble over G e o r g e Washington's face to remove excess granite with jackhammers, revealing the outline's Mountain Carving To say that Mount Rushmore was "carved" is to use a convenient figure of speech. Very few conventional sculpturi ng methods were employed in what was actually "a unique engineering accomplishment." Gutzon Borglum used the engineering techniques at Mount Rushmore that he had developed during his work on Stone Mountain. He first designed a grouping of the four Presidents to conform to the mountain's granite cap, but deep cracks and fissures, later discovered in the rock, required nine changes in the design. Five-foot models of each figure guided the workmen on the mountain. Measurements were taken from the models with a horizontal bar and plumb bob, enlarged 12 times, and transferred to the worked only as a sculptor. His fame grew, as did the size of his works. In 1915 he was asked by the United Daughters of the Confederacy to carve a head of Gen. Robert E. Lee on Stone Mountain in Georgia. Work did not begin until 1923, but some demands made by Borglum soon led to his dismissal. The invitation to the Black Hills presented him with an opportunity to create a monument whose dimensions would be determined by the importance to civilization of the events commemorated." For this purpose a location other than the Needles was needed. After much searching Borglum selected Mount Rushmore because it was smooth-grained granite, its 6000-foot height dominated the surrounding terrain, and it faced the sun most of the day. Carving the Monument Work on the mountain began August 10, 1927, the same day President Calvin Coolidge officially dedicated Mount Rushmore as a national memorial. Fourteen years were needed to bring the sculpture to its present appearance, but because of delays caused by lack of funds and bad weather only 6'/2 years were actually spent in carving. In the early years private donations supported the project, but when more funds were required the Federal Government assumed full financial responsibility. Federal appropriations accounted for $836,000 of the $990,000 spent on the memorial between 1927 and 1941. In March of the latter year Gutzon Borglum died. His son Lincoln, who had worked closely with his father on the monument, continued the project until funds ran out later the same year. Since then no additional carving has been done, nor is any further work on the memorial olanned. of his nose. W h e n the carving was within about three inches of the finished surface, the technique c h a n g e d — shallow holes, three inches apart, w e r e drilled, and the remainder of the rock w e d g e d off. The surface was then smoothed by "bumping." Gutzon Borglum, in his "swing seat," inspected and supervised the entire process. mountain. After a reference point, such as the tip of a nose, was located, excess rock could be removed with dynamite, often to within 3 or 4 inches of the finished surface. Some 450,000 tons of rock were removed in this manner. Drillers, suspended over the face of the mountain in "swi