How to Visit Mount Rushmore
- 1). Know the famous Americans depicted in this well-known American symbol--it doesn't do you any good to go look at men you can't name! From left to right, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln are carved into the Black Hills of South Dakota.
- 2). Check out the NPS website before visiting Mount Rushmore. This can give you a brief overview of this majestic memorial, as well as basic information such as operating hours, directions and other pertinent touring information.
- 3). Consider doing a guided tour to enhance your visit. The 30-minute Ranger Walk allows visitors to walk with a park ranger along the first half of the Presidential Trail to the base of the mountain carving, learning natural and cultural history along the way. The shorter Sculptor's Studio Talk allows you to learn about the tools and techniques used during the carving. There's even an evening program that invites you to join a park ranger in the park's outdoor amphitheater for a program focusing on the Presidents, patriotism and the nation's history. Check in the visitor's center when you arrive for all tour information.
- 4). Know to respect the park and the park rules. The natural and cultural resources are protected, so picking up rocks, collecting plants, littering or feeding wildlife are strictly prohibited. Climbing Mount Rushmore is prohibited, so be sure to stay on all established walking trails and hard surfaces at all times.
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