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.
Mount Rushmore Preps for Holidays with Country Fair Thanksgiving Show!
Held each year at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, the Country Fair Thanksgiving Show in the Mount Rushmore area’s Rapid City is a great way to lighten your spirits during the year-end holidays. If you come down late in November, you’ll be able to take part in the event’s festivities, offering handmade arts and crafts, fall recipes, fun toys for the kids and Christmas decorations to prepare for the season. You can browse the booths set up all over the fair grounds to experience the full effect of the festival. If you’d like to stay for the duration of the Thanksgiving holidays, be sure to book Mount Rushmore lodging as well.
The area has plenty of other activities beyond Rapid City, and you can get your fill of interesting artifacts and influential findings through tours like the Mammoth Site of Hot Springs – Hot Springs, SD. Your guide will take you through a state-of-the-art research facility exploring the lives of the mammoths as well as the early tribes that once lived in the nearby areas. As your guide will no doubt point out, the area you’re learning about also has sections where the movie, “Hidalgo,” was shot.
Next, you can discover the President’s Park – A Sculpture Park Tribute, which features 42 of our great presidents such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Theodore Roosevelt. Each presidential painting was designed and created by famous artist David Adickes. The fun museum has biographical summaries of each president as well as a delicious on-site restaurant called the Garden Cafe for the whole family as well as a gift shop and visitor center.
You can celebrate American history to your heart’s content while you’re in the Mount Rushmore area. Enjoy fellowship and fun with your whole family as well.
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!
Celebrate German Culture at the Mt. Rushmore Area’s Oktoberfest!
Oktoberfest is coming up soon in the Mount Rushmore area, and the festival will begin in the nearby town of Deadwood this October 1-2, providing authentic German cuisine and beverages. Grab a mug of brewed German beer and huddle up in one of the many heated tents on Main Street, joining in the festivities as cooks from around the area grill juicy brats and and mix up some side dishes. You’ll be treated to live music celebrating the German tradition with the most talented polka stars performing in front of audiences. If you’d like, you can try the traditional dances yourself. If you’re planning on staying overnight or longer for the festival and other activities, you can pick from plenty of Mount Rushmore lodging options.
You can continue in the spirit of the historical area by going to one of the many attractions that Mount Rushmore is known for, such as a performance at the Flying T Chuckwagon Supper and Show. The music is lively and you can’t beat the food, featuring steaming barbecue grilled chicken along baked beans, doughy biscuits with honey and a slice of spice cake. The performers, the “Flying T Wranglers,” will treat you to a country-style show with plenty of comedic moments interjected throughout, and you’re welcome to get your picture taken with them afterward.
If you’d like to see more of the surrounding country, the Buffalo Round-up with Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse is the perfect opportunity to discover the Badlands terrain. See the incredible 1,500 buffalo that Custer State Park rangers round up each year to count, give vaccinations and brand. The buffalo are truly an awe to look at, with many weighing thousands of pounds. See the badlands landscape as you’re taking a look around the mountainous scenery and explore the enormous Crazy Horse Memorial, which draws nearer to completion every season.
The Mount Rushmore area is the perfect stop for your family this fall, as the leaves start to turn and a cool breeze arrives in the South Dakota area. Take part in the season near one of the nation’s most famous memorials.
Holy Terror Days Bring Old West Fun to Mount Rushmore
If you’re looking for a great time filled with Old West traditions and excitement, come on down to Keystone, SD for Holy Terror Days. Holy Terror Days offers guests three whole days of fun activities like an authentic chuckwagon BBQ, history reenactments, family country street dance, and other great entertainment. Everyone can join in the fun from September 10th to the 12th in downtown Keystone for a vacation experience they will treasure for years to come!
For more Old West fun, check out Big Thunder Gold Mine in Keystone, SD. This gold mine is one of the few authentic gold mines left in the area and offers you the chance to learn what it was like to be a gold miner during the legendary gold rush era. You will tour part of the mine while your guide tells you about the people who worked there and the feeling of the times. You will even get the option to pan for gold with this mining adventure.
Don’t end your Old West experience at the mines. You can get more western traditions and fun with the Flying T Chuckwagon Supper and Show. This exciting show will give you an authentic chuckwagon experience combined with comedy and music that is appropriate for your whole family. Sing along with the cowboys and enjoy a delicious meal of barbecue roast beef, grilled chicken, and other southern favorites. It’s an evening of western entertainment that will take you back to a simpler time.
Experience Diverse History in Mount Rushmore
Guests who come to Mount Rushmore will find that the area has a diverse history to share with visitors. With everything from a mine dating back to the gold rush to the National Presidential Wax Museum which chronicles the history of the United States’ presidents, there is no end to the history you can explore. Come and see it all for yourself before summer ends!
Visitors to the Mount Rushmore area should not miss out on their chance to see Mount Rushmore. This impressive monument stands over 5,000 feet tall and has the faces of presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln carved into a mountain. This representation of the first 150 years of America is impressive to say the least. The audio tour of Mount Rushmore gives you the chance to study the area at your leisure while listening to narration, music, and interviews about the making of Mount Rushmore.
For a look at history that dates back to the Ice Age, check out Mammoth Site of Hot Springs. This site is a fascinating place to explore. You will start out with a guided tour of a working paleontology lab where you can see fossils of the mighty mammoth and then relax for a video presentation. Your time at the site can also be spent exploring the many exhibits and excavations taking place. This is a step back in time that proves fascinating for people of all ages.
If you’re interested in the history of the Gold Rush, you will definitely want to visit the Big Thunder Gold Mine while you’re in the Mount Rushmore area. Big Thunder Gold Mine is an authentic gold mine that dates back to 1882. A tour guide will lead you around to various sites in the mine to tell you what it was like to work in the gold mine back in the 1800s. For those interested, there is even an opportunity to pan for gold just like miners used to in the old days.
The Journey Museum – Rapid City
For a museum that will take you on an adventure through many pieces of American history, check out The Journey Museum. This museum has exhibits featuring geology, archeology, Native Americans, and pioneers. This museum clearly chronicles the history of South Dakota so you can see a timeline of how the area developed. It’s a fascinating way of learning that is fun for people of all ages!
National Presidential Wax Museum
If you’re more interested in the history of the United States and its presidents, you’re going to want to visit the National Presidential Wax Museum. This museum has a collection of incredible wax figures resembling past presidents. You can have your picture taken with George Washington as you learn about him. In addition, this museum has fine sculptures, presidential china, and other collectables for guests to view while they’re visiting.
Sturgis Motorcycle Rally’s 70th Anniversary Rumbles into the Mount Rushmore Area
Come to Sturgis, South Dakota and celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally from August 9-15. If you choose to break out the leather and polish up your bike to take a ride for Sturgis, you will have the opportunity to travel scenic routes like Needles Highway, Iron Mountain Road, and Wildlife Loop. Attractions along the way include Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Custer State Park, Crazy Horse Memorial, and more. During this week long event you can see bikes, concerts, races, bike shows, and have a once in a lifetime experience during many more thrilling events.
If you are traveling to the Mount Rushmore area during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally or just want to take a fun filled Mount Rushmore vacation, we offer several great hotels in the area. For a list of hotels in the Mount Rushmore area, click here.
There are several great ways to experience all the Mount Rushmore area has to offer. Whether you are wanting to take a rock climbing excursion on the 3 Hour Black Hills Rock Climbing Adventure or experience everything at once with the Mount Rushmore Grand Legends Tour, there is something sure to fit your fun vacation schedule. For a full list of activities in the Mount Rushmore area, click here.
3 Hour Black Hills Rock Climbing Adventure
During this fabulous three hour experience you will have the opportunity to enjoy breathtaking views of the Black Hills area from a whole new perspective. A professional guide will provide the equipment and make sure everything is set up perfectly to ensure a safe and fun experience for all members of the family; no experience is necessary!
Mount Rushmore Grand Legends Tour
See four of the greatest U.S. Presidents in larger than life fashion when you visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Take time to explore the visitor center for shopping and exhibits before departing for Custer State Park where you will enjoy lunch. Sights on the way to Crazy Horse Memorial include Iron Mountain Road, amazing views of the Black Hills, and Sylvan Lake. For the perfect touch to the end of your tour, take a ride on the 1880 Train where you can see the rugged landscape of the Black Hills from a wonderfully restored train.
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.
