Natural Sightseeing and Attractions Abound in Mount Rushmore
The Mount Rushmore area is well-known for those famous four, stone-faced presidents, but you can experience many attractions beyond this sightseeing magnet. Travel to South Dakota and look over miles of sloping hilltops and jutting rock formations in the Black Hills. Take your camera along to capture some of the sights, and participate in some of Mount Rushmore’s extensive tours to not only visualize the area but also receive an educational background of the attractions to make them much more significant and valuable to the American timeline.
With a map and special electronic wand in hand, you can walk anywhere you like in the Mount Rushmore National Memorial area to experience sightseeing through both visuals and audio. Your headphones will broadcast a detailed narration that will cover plenty of history, including that of Gutzon Borglum, the original creator of Mount Rushmore. Outside noise will not interfere with your experience, and the narration will include its own music score to add to your epic experience.
Mammoth Site of Hot Springs – Hot Springs, SD
Step into one of the planet’s biggest mammoth research facilities, where exhibits featuring full bone structures of these ancient Ice Age creatures lie. You’ll discover excavation sites and scientific rooms where professional paleontologists study their findings. Visitors will also be able to view parts of the facility where the famous movie “Hidalgo” was filmed starring Viggo Mortenson and marking a great moment in cinematic history. Best of all, once the guided portion of the tour is over, you’ll be able to explore it all yourself.
National Presidential Wax Museum – Keystone, SD
After you’ve explored many of the natural sites of Mount Rushmore, you can head over to this fun museum to see some of the nation’s past leaders. Look for President Nixon during the famous return journey from the moon or watch as President’s Reagan’s reaction after Germany’s Berlin Wall falls. Visitors can look at presidents from the Revolutionary days up until modern times, with authentic costumes and detailed faces to match.
Plan Your Summer Vacation Around Mount Rushmore!
The spring season has almost ended, and as the warm air of summer drifts its way up to Mount Rushmore, you’ll be able to view many of the astounding geological features of the area. Carefully carved sculptures like the enormous Crazy Horse Memorial and Mount Rushmore’s four presidential faces will be just a few highlights during your vacation. You’ll have the opportunity to see miles of rugged landscape in the Badlands, and you might even search for a bit of entertainment from some of the area shows! You’ll want to check out the following attractions to make your Mount Rushmore vacation complete this summer.
Mount Rushmore Grand Legends Tour
Visit an all-encompassing tour featuring everything from the detailed Crazy Horse Memorial to Custer State Park. See many of the natural attractions featured all year long in the Mount Rushmore area and ask your tour guide any questions you have. A delicious Monumental Breakfast Special will be part of your ticket as well, featuring hot items such as eggs, biscuits and gravy and hashbrowns. Other highlights you’ll see include the 1880 Train, Iron Mountain Road and the Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
1880 Train: A 19th Century Train Ride Tour
You can receive an even more in-depth tour of the past with a ride on the 1880 train, which will travel across the beautiful landscape as you sightsee inside the comfortable passenger cars. Be sure to check out some of the souvenirs and gifts before you board, with options like engineer hats and train whistles. You’ll be provided the option to depart from either Keystone or Hill City, but no matter where you start, you’ll see the scenic beauty of places like the Kennedy House, Tin Mill Hill and Bob Ingersoll Mine.
Pioneer Auto Show and Antique Town – Murdo, SD
Finally, be sure to check out the ancient car show dating back many decades, as you view classic pieces such as the J.J. Case Steam Engine, a Harley Davidson from 1910, and a newer Mustang Convertible from 1967. Each of these acclaimed models have something special about them, and you can view all of these exhibits while enjoying the historic significance behind them. Some even have celebrity status, like Elvis Presley’s Harley Davidson and General Lee from Dukes of Hazzard.
Enjoy Wildlife Attractions in Mount Rushmore!
Mt. Rushmore may be known more for its “presidential” landscape, but there are plenty of other things to see while traveling through South Dakota. While on the Grand Legends Tour you may catch a glimpse of Mountain Goats, with their shaggy white coats and black horns. As you are traveling through Custer State Park, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for Bighorn Sheep. And if you look carefully in the wooded areas of the Black Hills you may be lucky enough to spot some elk. South Dakota’s most famous animal however, may be the bison and you have the opportunity to see these great creatures up close and personal.
You won’t want to miss the annual Buffalo Round-Up on September 26 at Custer State Park. Once a year, park rangers must round up approximately 1,500 buffaloes for branding, counting and vaccinations, and you have the opportunity to lend a hand and experience what it was like in days gone by when buffalo roamed the Badlands. Not only will you get to participate in this once in a lifetime opportunity, you will also be able to stop at Mount Rushmore and the in-progress Crazy Horse memorial.
To view animals of a different kind, make a trip to Mammoth Site of Hot Springs. While there, visit a working paleontology laboratory, watch archaeological films and go on a guided tour of the world’s largest mammoth research facility. You will be able to see how scientists work a dig and find the Ice Age fossils that cannot be found anywhere else. You will also have the opportunity to walk where some of the earliest known humans once walked and see how they lived. Don’t miss this exciting and educational opportunity that will thrill young and old alike.
Bring Your Family to the YFS Kids Fair Near Mount Rushmore!
If you are planning a spring getaway to the Mount Rushmore area with your children, your whole family can enjoy attending the YFS Kids Fair. This wonderful event, which takes place April 15 -17 at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City, will provide you with three full days of family fun. At the YFS Kids Fair, you can enjoy entertainment, bouncing on inflatables and taking part in a variety of hands-on activities like crafts. There will be all types of entertainment at the fair, and many local businesses and community organizations will be on-hand at the fair to show kids how the city works.
While you are visiting the Mount Rushmore area, you will want to learn more about the American Presidents whose likenesses are carved into the Mount Rushmore monument. Your visit to the National Presidential Wax Museum will provide you with an in-depth look at each president of the United States, from our first president, George Washington, to our current president, Barack Obama. Each President is represented with a life-like wax replica and historical information about world events that happened while each president was in office. The whole family is sure to love this fascinating attraction!
After exploring attractions in the Mount Rushmore area, you and your family will be ready for some outdoor recreational activities, and you will have a blast at Holy Terror Mini Golf. This exciting miniature golf course provides you with 18 holes of fabulous family fun. Partake in healthy competition and see who can get a hole-in-one while avoiding the carefully placed obstacles and hills in this fun golf course. This course is located next door to the Presidential Wax Museum, so it’s in the perfect location for fun after visiting educational attractions!
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!
Entertain Family with a Mount Rushmore Excursion!
You can make a trip to Mount Rushmore this year and find plenty of attractions for you and your family to experience. South Dakota is covered with large groves of pine, cedar and red maple trees that stretch across the hills, providing you with plenty of scenery. Educational tours, dinner shows and sculptures of historic figures are present near the Mount Rushmore area to provide the perfect vacation for adults and kids. You can spend plenty of time experiencing some of these attractions with a few of the highlights below.
Holy Terror Mini Golf – Keystone, SD
The Holy Terror Mini Golf – Keystone, SD, is a favorite for families who can breathe in the mountain air while putting along the 18 hole course. There are several obstacles along the way, so make sure you avoid the water hazards, steep slopes, and even large boulders that may block your view. The course is guaranteed to appeal to all ages, and its a great way to bond with the whole family.
National Presidential Wax Museum
After your golf game, you might as well head over to the National Presidential Wax Museum, which sits right next to the golf course. Inside, you can identify some of the most important significant historical events in America, such as former President George W. Bush’s visitation to Ground Zero after 9/11, or Roosevelt’s trip to Yalta. You’ll have the chance to view these presidents up close, admiring the intricate detail of each one.
Flying T Chuckwagon Supper and Show
The Flying T is known for its friendly atmosphere, and you are welcome to sing along with these talented performers as they sing of the good ol’ days with traditional country music. The food is absolutely delicious, with a choice of tender barbecue roast beef or grilled chicken, Chuckwagon potatoes, and western baked beans. Entertain the family with this musical group of cowboys that play, dance and even add in their own style of comedy.
Book Your Holiday Package to Mount Rushmore!
The history of the Mount Rushmore site dates back decades ago, and you can be a part of its fascinating history by visiting the manmade presidential sculpture during Christmas and New Year’s. You can discover some of the tribal history and ancient artifacts that have made the area famous. Walk through museums and area attractions to learn all you can about the area during the holidays. It’s a relaxing time to visit, and Mount Rushmore’s attractions will be lit up with amazing Christmas decorations for everyone to enjoy. Visit these great attractions while you’re here.
The Journey Museum – Rapid City
Take a look at five different exhibits to find clues about the terrain, culture and artifacts of the past. In the Museum of Geology, you can turn the clock back more than two billion years to examine some of the most ancient geologic discoveries that man has seen. Other places of interest include the Archeological Research Center, Sioux Indian Museum, Minnilusa Pioneer Museum and the Duhamel Collection of Native American Artifacts. Visit all of them with one ticket.
President’s Park – A Sculpture Park Tribute
If you’re a political history buff, the President’s Park will be right up your alley. Find out more information about each of the 42 presidents represented in the park, unraveling new facts about great presidents like Dwight D. Eisenhower and Thomas Jefferson. The park has detailed sculptures of each president, so you can get your picture taken by your favorite one. In addition, you may grab a bite to eat at the delicious Garden Cafe to keep your stomach from growling.
Mammoth Site of Hot Springs – Hot Springs, SD
Don’t forget about these enormous animals that once roamed the area thousands of years ago. You can find out more about the mammoth’s habits and the places they made their homes in this exciting 30 minute tour combined with a visual presentation and several exhibits. Kids and grandparents will all enjoy this tour, and you may ask questions from your knowledgeable tour guide.
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December Brings Family Activities for Mount Rushmore Visitors!
If you’re heading up to the Mount Rushmore area this December, there are plenty of family activities and sightseeing all across the region. Whether you’re visiting family or are celebrating the Christmas season near the Mount Rushmore Memorial, you won’t be disappointed with your trip. Discover a wealth of information in the Big Thunder Gold Mine and spark your interest at the Pioneer Auto Show and Antique Town. You can learn more about these activities and others during your visit.
Big Thunder Gold Mine – Keystone, SD
Man first set foot on the Black Hills region thousands of years ago, but the area’s popularity didn’t start rising until gold was discovered. You can be a part of this historical era when you take a tour of the mine along with an opportunity to pan for gold. Best of all, if you or your kids decide to do the panning activity, you’re guaranteed to find gold! Learn information about the gold miners you may not have previously known, and find out from your tour guide which gold mines were the biggest and best.
Pioneer Auto Show and Antique Town – Murdo, SD
Whether you have a general interest or obsession with antiques, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the variety and beauty that exists in this exciting antique show. Look for famous vehicles like Elvis Presley’s roaring Harley Davidson or the 1967 Mustang Convertible. You can browse the interior of a general store packed with old, wooden toys, small music boxes and other great antiques. If you book with an extra adult and children, you can receive a family pass to sweeten the deal.
This extraordinary tour was recorded with high quality instruments to produce an adventurous narration of the Mount Rushmore area. You’ll be equipped with an audio wand and map to start out your tour. As you stroll through the park, the narrator will provide suggestions of paths for you to follow and sights for you to see. As a tour highlight, you’ll hear the authentic voice of Gutzon Borglum, the creator of Mount Rushmore.
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.
