Check Out the Central States Fair Happening Soon in Mount Rushmore!
Starting August 19, the Central States Fair will be taking place in Rapid City, South Dakota, just 24 miles from Mount Rushmore. The fair doesn’t end until August 28, so you have plenty of time to see what it’s all about. There’s going to be racing, concerts, rodeos, and more! You can get a pass and ride all the heart-stopping thrill rides, or pig out on corn dogs, funnel cakes, and other classic fair foods. You don’t want to miss this incredible event and you’ll want more than one day to experience everything here, so make your reservations for a stay in a Greater Mount Rushmore hotel and while you’re at it think about adding some more fun to the trip with these outstanding activities!
The Old West is alive again with the Flying T Chuckwagon Supper and Show, making your Mount Rushmore experience better than ever. You’ll enjoy a show filled with fantastic performers and country entertainment combined with a cowboy feast that includes grilled chicken, roast beef, and more.
Add to your Greater Mount Rushmore vacation with a time at Holy Terror Mini Golf in Keystone, SD. Eighteen crazy holes of miniature golf await you amidst pine trees, beautiful slopes, running streams and all the other golf hazards. You’ll feel as though you’re in a golf course built around a South Dakota gold mine. Sounds like a lot of fun!
For future scientists, dinosaur fanatics, and those simply looking for something larger than life, the Mammoth Site of Hot Springs is a must see attraction. Home to an actual paleontology lab and dig site, the Mammoth Site of Hot Springs will show you what it really takes to unearth the mysterious of our past, as well as provide in depth information on the powerful mammoth. From the dig site to the museum exhibit, you’ll experience the full range of what it takes to bring the past back to life.
Black Hills Motorcycle Show Provides Entertainment in the Mount Rushmore Area
Motorcycle enthusiasts will love the Black Hills Motorcycle Show going on in Rapid City on April 9th and 10th. This motorcycle show is one of the oldest and largest shows in the region and features over 20 judged classes of motorcycles with a total of five “Best of Show” categories for all motorcycles. Antiques, touring bikes, sport bikes, cruisers, and custom motorcycles are all welcome to attend and enter the contests. It’s an event that often brings out some of the most unique and classic motorcycles, so make sure that you don’t miss this event!
While you’re in the Mount Rushmore area for the Black Hills Motorcycle Show, make sure you don’t miss your chance to see the legendary Mount Rushmore memorial. Take the Mount Rushmore Audio Tour, so you can explore the Mount Rushmore memorial and its history at your own pace. Your audio tour includes narration, music, sound effects, and historic recordings of Gutzon Borglum and the people who worked on Mount Rushmore for one fascinating exploration of the making of Mount Rushmore.
If you’re in town for the motorcycle show, you’re certain to find the Pioneer Auto Show and Antique Town a fascinating place to visit. This attraction gives you the chance to see over 250 classic cars, motorcycles, and antique tractors. You will find a wide range of interesting motorcycle displays to keep you busy for hours. Elvis Presley’s Harley Davidson, the 1945 Hardly Davidson Motorcycle with Side Car, and the 1910 Harley Davidson are just a few of the exciting motorcycle displays you can expect to see. If you love great craftsmanship and beautiful vehicles, this museum is certain to be the highlight of your vacation!
Olde Tyme Hill City Christmas Gives Visitors an Old Fashioned Holiday Celebration
If you long to experience an old fashioned Christmas, you can finally have your wish with the Olde Tyme Hill City Christmas event. This fun holiday celebration takes place November 26th on Main Street in Hill City. Some of the fun activities and attractions at the event include a parade, chestnuts roasting in front of the Alpine Inn, and Christmas carolers. Santa Claus is an honored guest at the event and will be lighting the Christmas tree to start off the festivities. Later, Santa will hand out some delicious fruit to children to wish them a Merry Christmas!
While you’re in the area, you can’t miss your chance to see Mount Rushmore and learn some of its history with the Mount Rushmore Audio Tour. This tour is one that you can customize to fit your needs. An audio wand is given to you along with a map of your planned tour route, so you can wander at your leisure to see the sights and hear the accompanying narration. You will hear from the creator of Mount Rushmore, Gutzon Borglum, as well as his family, workers, and Native Americans who were a part of the project. It’s an interesting and unique way to experience the power of Mount Rushmore.
After Mount Rushmore, there’s one more place you have to visit during your time in the area, the Pioneer Auto Show and Antique Town. This exciting attraction gives you the chance to view over 250 classic cars, antique tractors, and motorcycles. Classic model Fords, Elvis Presley’s Harley Davidson, The General Lee, and many other historic vehicles await you when you visit this town. You will be awed by the number of interesting facts and automobiles you see!
All Aboard for the Holiday Express on the 1880 Train
Enjoy a combination of Old West charm and holiday cheer with the Holiday Express on the 1880 Train. This fun event takes place November 26th and 27th at the Train Depot in Hill City and offers family-friendly entertainment for your enjoyment. The 1880 train will take guests on a magical journey to the North Pole where the kids will get the chance to meet Santa. Whether you’re 9 or 90, you will find this an enchanting experience and a great way to start your holiday celebration!
While you’re in the Mount Rushmore area, you can’t miss out on your chance to see the legendary Mount Rushmore monument in person. The Mount Rushmore Grand Legends Tour gives you the chance to explore the wonders of Mount Rushmore in full, and it gives you the chance to see some of the other famous attractions of the area. After seeing Mount Rushmore, you will visit the famous Custer State Park where you can enjoy some of the area’s best buffalo stew. Afterward, you will get to enjoy scenic views of Sylvan Lake before visiting the Crazy Horse Memorial. This tour is an overview that will give you the chance to see the best of the Mount Rushmore area.
After seeing Mount Rushmore, you may be interested in visiting some of the other area attractions that feature past presidents. Visit President’s Park – A Sculpture Park Tribute to get some fascinating information about the presidents who have helped shape our country. Each informational plaque is accompanied by an incredible 20-foot bust featuring over 40 of America’s past presidents. Flags are included, so you can see how many states were included in the union during each man’s presidency. It’s a wonderful way to trace America’s history and enjoy quality time with family or friends.
Mount Rushmore Attractions Offer Centuries of Historical Knowledge!
Head to one of the greatest manmade landmarks in the nation this fall – Mount Rushmore. You can view the four presidents and the surrounding landscape in all of its beauty as the leaves change from dark green to fiery red to pale gold. The pines and rocky formations will make your vacation to this South Dakota region completely worthwhile. Bring along your camera, and make sure you look into some of the other Mount Rushmore activities listed below:
Big Thunder Gold Mine – Keystone, SD
During this authentic experience, you’ll be able to tour an actual mine that was used extensively by settlers who wished to strike it rich. Tour guides will provide you with a piece of the surrounding history of the mine which was discovered in 1882. You’ll be able to pan for gold and look for veins of ore or other minerals that might still run through the mine. You’re guaranteed to find gold on this great adventure, so bring along your friends and family!
The Journey Museum – Rapid City
Nearby, you can head over to the Journey Museum to understand the history behind the Western Great Plains. Much of the archeological evidence has been preserved through collections ranging from real dinosaur bones to remnants of the artifacts spanning across more than 10,000 years of artifacts. If you’re interested in other cultures, you can view the Duhamel Collection of Native American Artifacts, which is composed of materials created and used by the Sioux Native Americans.
National Presidential Wax Museum – Keystone, SD
Finally, lighten your trip up with a walkthrough of famous Presidents both modern and older. You’ll see the presidents dressed up in some of the same period uniforms that they wore back when they served in office. The wax presidents are immersed in their own historic eras, and you’ll be able to see President Roosevelt in Yalta and President Nixon as he shook the hands of astronauts returning from their first moon voyage.
As long as you’re in Mount Rushmore, you’ll want to experience the area’s history and culture to its fullest. View the scenery of the fall season this October!
Rapid City Hosts Central States Fair and Rodeo
Rapid City is host to Central States Fair and Rodeo which is taking place from August 20-29 where you can see great grandstand events including Supercross racing, a metal crushing demolition derby, artists such as Clay Walker, The Band Perry, Uncle Kracker, Little River Band, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and Gary Allan. To top off all the excitement there will be the PRCA Range Days Rodeo for three action packed nights during the fair. Bring the whole family to Central States Fair and Rodeo to enjoy fun crafts, a petting zoo, and many more exciting activities.
While you’re visiting the Mount Rushmore area, be sure to check out other great activities including the Chuckwagon Dinner and Music Show at Circle B Ranch, 1880 Train: A 19th Century Train Ride Tour, and many more! To view a list of activities in the Mount Rushmore area, click here.
Chuckwagon Dinner and Western Music Show at Circle B Ranch
This dinner experience has been entertaining guests with the Chuckwagon Dinner and Music Show since 1976. There are over 60 acres filled with trail rides, playgrounds, model calf roping, a wax bullet shooting gallery, and more fun activities. After a day filled with fun, you can enjoy a great supper that includes scrumptious roast beef, BBQ chicken, biscuits, and more delectable choices. After your meal, sit back and enjoy wonderful traditional cowboy music from Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, the Sons of the Pioneers, and many more classic artists by talented musicians.
1880 Train: A 19th Century Train Ride Tour
On the 1880 Train, you can experience how people traveled in the 19th century on an authentic steam engine train that has been fully restored. Enjoy the incredible scenery of the Black Hills as you travel along the smooth tracks. Choose to have a classic box lunch along the ride for the ultimate experience of the “good ole days.” The train departs from Hill City as well as Keystone making this a versatile option for your trip to the Mount Rushmore area in South Dakota.
During your trip to Central States Fair and Rodeo or if you just wish to travel to the Mount Rushmore area for your vacation, we offer several great hotels to make your stay comfortable. For a list of hotels in the Mount Rushmore area, click here.
Enjoy An In-Depth Tour Through The Wild West!
If you’re planning a vacation to the old West, there is so much to see. Everything from the famous Mt Rushmore to the scenic Yellowstone National Park is worth seeing if you’re visiting the area. If you are looking for a way to cover it all in one trip, there is one perfect solution. The Yellowstone & Mt Rushmore guided tour allows you to hit all the sights of the wild West while still enjoying the care-free experience of a vacation.
This 9-day tour begins in Salt Lake City, where you’ll tour Temple Square and enjoy a performance by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Enjoy a nice dinner before turning in for the night. Day two is spent traveling through Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming as you make your way to Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Day three is the time for sightseeing as you tour Jackson Hole and the Grand Tetons National Park on your way into Yellowstone, where you’ll be staying for the next two nights. On the fourth day of the tour, you will explore Yellowstone National Park. Within the park you’ll see native wildlife, including elk, bison, and bears. You’ll also see Old Faithful geyser and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
On the fifth day, you’ll travel from Jackson Hole to Cody, Wyoming, where you’ll explore the Buffalo Bill Historical Museum before crossing the Big Horn Mountains into Sheridan, Wyoming to spend the night. After a night in Sheridan, you’ll head into the Black Hills. During the trip, you’ll visit the Little Big Horn Battlefield, home of General Custer’s last stand, and the historic town of Deadwood. Following a long day of traveling, you’ll spend the night in Rapid City, South Dakota.
Beginning on the seventh day, you’ll visit the Black Hills, Crazy Horse Memorial, and Mt Rushmore. You’ll get the chance to tour Mt Rushmore twice, one during the day and once after sunset. On the morning of day eight, you’ll head west. Along the way you’ll visit Hot Springs, SD and Fort Laramie, Wyoming, which is a restored western outpost. You’ll spend the night in Cheyenne, Wyoming and enjoy a farewell dinner.
On the ninth and final day of the tour, you’ll head into Denver, Colorado. Upon arrival in Denver you will be free to head home with a suitcase full of memories.
If you would like to learn more about the Yellowstone & Mt Rushmore guided tour, or to reserve this tour, please visit the Yellowstone & Mt Rushmore page.
Study Native American History in Mt. Rushmore
The Black Hills of South Dakota are filled with the history of its past inhabitants. With many museums and monuments in the area, the Mt. Rushmore area offers many opportunities to learn more about the early residents of this region.
Located in Rapid City, the Journey Museum contains many exhibits on the development of the Mt. Rushmore area. Visitors can see the Museum of Geology, Archeological Research Center, Sioux Indian Musuem, Minnilusa Pioneer Museum, and the the Duhamel Collection of Native American Artifacts. In addition, admission to the museum includes a film that covers the history and development of the region. Each exhibit contains many artifacts that help tell the story of the past of the Black Hills region. Visitors can see pieces from the Sioux Indians, the early pioneers, and a collection of Sioux arts and crafts. Also, the Archeological Research Center contains an archeological dig and artifacts that are thousands of years old.
Wounded Knee Museum
The Lakota Indians were another native resident group of the Black Hills, and the Wounded Knee Museum is dedicated to their life in this area. The museum contains many artifacts on Lakota life and the Wounded Knee Massacre that happened in 1890. This museum also chronicles the struggle of the Indians against the pioneers in the 1800s. Visitors will see newspaper clippings, films, photographs, artifacts, and eye-witness accounts of what happened the day of Wounded Knee. This museum shows a realistic presentation of the Lakota’s struggle in South Dakota and preserves their memory.
The Crazy Horse Memorial is another must-see tribute while on a trip to Mt. Rushmore. Crazy Horse was the warrior who led the Sioux Indians in the Battle of Little Bighorn. This memorial has been in ongoing construction for the past two decades. When the sculpture is completed, it will be 563 feet tall and over 600 feet wide. The sculpture is on Thunderhead Mountain located between Custer and Hill City. The Crazy Horse Memorial is one of the stops on the Mt. Rushmore Tour.
Go Back to Prehistoric Times in South Dakota
Due to the Black Hills’ area long history, there are many archeological wonders to be found hidden deep in the rich and rocky soil of South Dakota, affording visitors the rare opportunity to see fossils and authentic dig sites during their vacation. The following attractions in the Mount Rushmore area offer fun and education to visitors of any age.
This activity allows visitors to enjoy a guided tour of a working archeological dig site. Visitors can learn about mammoths and their history, as well as see real mammoth skeletons. While at the Mammoth Site, visitors can also see the paleontology laboratory and experience multimedia presentations of archeological endeavors in the Black Hills. This activity includes a guided tour of the site, but you will also have time to explore on your own. You can also see scenes from the movie Hidalgo at this site.
To continue your education on the area’s geology, a visit to the Museum of Geology in Rapid City is a great addition to your vacation. This site is a teaching and research facility that contains over 250,000 fossils and 6,000 minerals. Collections at this museum include White River Badlands fossils, Jurassic and Cretaceous reptiles and mammals, and Black Hills minerals. This museum also has several rare specimens and fossils on display that you will not find at many other places. The museum it typically open daily and is a great experience for anyone interested in the interesting geological construction of South Dakota and the Black Hills.
No area is more of a tribute to the geological makeup of the area than the Badlands National Park. This natural attraction features canyons, gullies, sharp cliffs, and other topographical features that reflect the centuries of wear and erosion that crafted the landscape you see today. The Badlands also contains a large collection of fossils from the Oligocene Epoch of the Animals, and more pre-historic fossils are still being uncovered by paleontologists. The park covers over 200,000 acres, and many hiking and walking trails are available.
Regional History is on Display Near Mt. Rushmore, SD
Although the Mount Rushmore area of South Dakota offers a seemingly unlimited amount of sightseeing options and natural wonders, travelers to the area would do well to enjoy some of history’s most pivotal moments through some of these museums. From early settlements and Native Americans up to the present day, a look into the history of the Mount Rushmore region and the world at large would be a welcomed addition to any vacation.
The Journey Museum offers an in-depth look at the Western Great Plains from pre-historic times through the present. The museum is divided into five different exhibits that explore the history of time: the Museum of Geology, the Archaeological Research Center, the Sioux Indian Museum, the Minnisula Pioneer Museum, and the Duhamel Collection of Native American Artifacts. See life-sized dinosaur bones, view artifacts from ancient hunters of 10,000 years ago, discover the cultures of the Lakota and Sioux Indians, or learn about the different historical individuals who helped pave the region into what it is today.
Upon its completion, the Crazy Horse Memorial will become the largest sculpture in the world, dedicated to the warrior Crazy Horse who led his Ogala Sioux at the battle of Little Bighorn. The ongoing project serves as a tribute to both his courageous way of life and his untimely death. The site offers more than just the 563-foot tall sculpture-in-progress; it is also the location of the Indian Museum and Native American Cultural Center. The museum houses artifacts and art that help paint a picture of the proud Native American culture. The collection of memorabilia is donated by tribal members and other citizens who strive to expand awareness of the Native American way of life.
Located near Mount Rushmore in the historic city of Deadwood, SD, the Adams Museum stands as the oldest history museum in the Black Hills region. Artifacts and general information about famous historical figures are on display at the museum. You will find information about W.E. Adams, founder of the museum in 1930, as well as Thoen Stone and two of Deadwood’s most well-known historical figures, Wild Bill Hickock and Calamity Jane. Learn about the life and times of these characters for an intriguing activity on your vacation.
