A Little History
Carved into the granite of the Black Hills between 1927 and 1941, Mount Rushmore National Memorial features the 60-foot faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Sculptor Gutzon Borglum led the project with a crew of roughly 400 workers, and his son Lincoln saw it through to completion after Borglum died in 1941. Long before the carving, the Lakota knew this mountain as the Six Grandfathers, and the Black Hills remain sacred to them today.
Our Visit
We took our time leaving Lake Mitchell Campground, since our next stop, Mount Rushmore, was only a few hundred miles away. Once we were packed up, we hit the road. Most of the drive had no mountains or trees. Even so, it was surprisingly pretty: miles and miles of lush, deep green grass and pastures as far as the eye could see!
The Drive Up to Mount Rushmore
Once we left the interstate, we passed through a small, quaint town on the outskirts. From there, the winding road climbs the mountain, and you get some great views of the faces before you even arrive.
The memorial itself, however, was a madhouse. Cars were lined up like an amusement park, with several “lanes” feeding into the parking area. I quickly stopped to ask whether it was okay to bring Lola. The guide said she was fine, so we got in line and parked.
Princess Lola Gets Carried
Walking up to the main entrance, we met another guide who told me dogs aren’t allowed. After a short discussion, though, she let me bring Lola in, as long as I carried her the entire time. (Spoiled dog…)
Lola, naturally, had no complaints. She rode along in my arms like royalty and soaked up attention from everyone we passed.
A Quick but Memorable Visit
IT WAS BUSY!!! Still, I managed to grab some pictures and pick up a few souvenirs. I was also completely surprised to find that Mount Rushmore actually has a stage! Because I couldn’t put Lola down, I opted NOT to try the hike around the monument. This time, anyway…
We were only there for a short while. However, it was just enough to see and experience it, take pictures and earn a new marker for this spot on my map. If you’re planning your own trip, the National Park Service’s Mount Rushmore page has hours and parking details.
Next stop: Oreville Campground in the Black Hills →
Enjoying the adventures?
Buy my human a coffee for the long drives, or buy me a biscuit. 25% of your purchase goes to local rescues & shelters. — Lola 🐾
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