The United States is dotted with iconic landmarks that symbolize power and prestige and America. Some will appear in your head, like the Statue of Liberty or the Gateway Arch, but there is an icon in the Dakotas that is a testament to human dedication to being great. We are talking, of course, of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial or Mount Rushmore. Let’s take a look at this landmark which includes a brief history, where to stay and when to go.
A brief history of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial
The idea for Mount Rushmore came from a South Dakota historian named Doane Robinson. Robinson wanted to create a landmark to encourage more people to visit the Black Hills of South Dakota. They chose the southeast face on Mount Rushmore because of its granite composition and long hours of exposure to the sun.
Many ideas were considered as the heroes of the old west before the sculptor Gutzon Borglum decided to portray the four presidents we see today. Borglum, along with his son Lincoln, began the project in 1927 and continued until his death in 1941. The monument was intended to portray the upper body of the presidents, but was suspended in October 1941 due to lack of funds.
Now that you know a little about Mount Rushmore, you need a place to stay. Here are a couple of two great areas to consider.
Custer’s Gulch RV Park: Custer, Dakota del SurÂ
Custer’s Gulch RV Park is a beautiful RV park nestled in the shady hills of Custer, South Dakota, and is just over a half-hour drive from Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Custer’s Gulch has full utility hookups, free Wi-Fi, showers and laundry, a clubhouse, and parking lots for RVs like volleyball and horseshoes. There are many activities nearby to pass the time, such as hiking, biking, fishing, ATVing, and much more. The park is close to Custer State Park, Wind Cave National Park, and of course Mount Rushmore.
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Mount Rushmore KOA: Hill City, Dakota del SurÂ
Mount Rushmore KOA has everything you know and love about the KOA campground chain. Mount Rushmore KOA offers you full utility connections as well as cable television and Wi-Fi access. It also has all the typical features of your RV park such as showers, toilets, laundry facilities, as well as propane filling, hot tub, pool, bike rental, and even mini golf.
You can also enjoy the family-friendly activities that KOA offers, such as gold mining, a small water park, live entertainment, movie screenings, horseback riding, and more. The site provides an overnight shuttle service to the illuminated Mount Rushmore Memorial. Mount Rushmore KOA is also within walking distance of Harney Peak, Crazy Horse Memorial, and Custer State Park.
When to go to Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Summer brings warm temperatures to the Black Hills of South Dakota, but it also attracts most tourists. If you can tolerate the cold or would like to ski, you can visit Mount Rushmore in winter, but many roads are closed. The optimal time to go, Mount Rushmore, is in the fall, the temperatures are cooler but there are fewer crowds to deal with, and the foliage of the Black Hills is lovely.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial is one of the oldest proofs of time for the art, stonework, and engineering that went into carving the image of each president. Visiting Mount Rushmore is a unique experience for Americans and travelers from around the world who appreciate the beauty of what Doane Robinson envisioned. RVing offers the perfect opportunity to visit Mount Rushmore and see the west like never before.
So, get out on those hills and see one of the most remarkable feats of sculpture and engineering in the world! Presidents past and present will thank you.
