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Jacob
Jacob
Mount Rushmore National Memorial is located in the Black Hills near Rapid City, South Dakota. Mount Rushmore is a carving of four presidents: Washington, Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Lincoln. To be blunt, Mount Rushmore is one of my favorite places on earth. If you are going to the Black Hills you have to see Mount Rushmore. I have visited Mount Rushmore a couple of times, once when we visited the Black Hills area and once in 2018 as part of our trip to Glacier National Park.
When you get close to the monument from the east you turn a corner and there it is right in front of you through the trees in a bend in the road. If you approach in the west there is a pullout right next to the monument where you can get an excellent view of George Washington. You then get to the turn-in for the memorial you enter the most efficient parking lot I have ever seen. I know I sound weird saying this but if you ask someone who has been there about the parking they will probably say the same thing.
After you park the car you go to the entrance to the memorial. Large granite arches with the inscribed words Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Past the arch you get the first view of Mount Rushmore in all of its grandeur. To the left there are bathrooms as well as a place to get audio tours of Mount Rushmore. To the right there is a bookstore where you can get the park cancellation stamp for your parks passport as well as a large variety of books and other products. Further up the main walkway is a building with an arch over the walk. On the left side is a larger gift sore where you can get shirts, posters, Christmas ornaments etc. On the right is a restaurant that had surprisingly good food. You then walk through the Avenue of Flags to get to the Grand View Terrace. This is the most spectacular view of Mount Rushmore
Down the stairs is the amphitheater where they have a night program to light up the memorial as well as the National Parks Service visitor center. Back on the terrace view is the only trail in National Memorial. Going left you get on the Presidential Trail. This is a great trail to get close to the carvings up close to see all the details of the presidents. The trail is .6 miles long up and down 422 stairs. Along the trail are some rocks that form a small cave that you look up and see President Lincoln through a hole in the rock. There are also many side boardwalks to get a fantastic view of the presidents.
Further down the trail you get to the sculptor's studio. The studio is Gutzon Borglum’s studio that he used for his onsite work. A great stop along the trail with more great views of the monument. Further up the trail is the Borglum View Terrace with a side view of the carvings. You are then back at the Grand View Terrace.
Be sure to stop at the visitor center down the stairs by the amphitheater. There is a great short film to see as well as another visitor center. At night do not miss the 45 minute evening program. This is where they have a ranger talk and show a different film. They also light up the memorial during the program.
If you are in the Black Hills make sure you go visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
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