Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Millions of tourists visit the majestic Mount Rushmore and its enormous carvings each year, making it one of the most distinctive tourist destinations in the United States. The magnificent sculpture, which is located in the southwest, is South Dakota's most popular tourist destination.
The enormous skulls of four of the country's most beloved and respected presidents—George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln—were carved between 1927 and 1941 into the side of the massive hill. The nation's birth, growth, progress, and preservation are each represented by one of these famous individuals.
More than 400,000 tons of granite were blasted out of the mountainside to create it. A patriotic ceremony is held in the evening while the monument is illuminated. The Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center, which located on the terrace with a view of the monument, is a great addition to any trip. The 0.6-mile Presidential Trail offers guests a chance to view the monument up close.
The 18-meter high statues at the national memorial are breathtaking, but you can also visit the site's visitor center to learn all about how they were carved and made. Each evening, a brief but moving ritual is held when the four statues are brilliantly illuminated.
- Location: South Dakota
