There are some outstanding upgrades coming to Mount Rushmore National Memorial, and we want you to have the most accurate, up-to-date information on what will be occurring at the memorial.  The enhancements will address deferred maintenance, visitor safety and accessibility to the memorial. Please note that the memorial is OPEN during construction. 

We want to make sure that you will be able to discover some of the fun and exciting offerings that sometimes get overlooked during a visit to Mount Rushmore. As a result, the memorial has created a Top 10 List of things to see and do during the construction phase to ensure that visitors continue to have a great experience.

1. Visit the Sculptor’s Studio and learn more about the carver’s vision. Discover park history in the Information Center.

2. Hike the Presidential Trail. Explore the Lakota, Nakota, & Dakota Heritage at the Borglum View Terrace.

3. Take a picture of the sculpture from various unique angles, like the Carver’s Cafe, Borglum View Terrace & the Sculptor’s Studio.

4. Attend the evening lighting ceremony, held nightly throughout the summer, for a uniquely inspirational experience.

5. Hunt for a treasure in the gift shop that will forever remind you of your Mount Rushmore experience.

6. Find a book or memento at the Mount Rushmore Bookstores in the Information Center or Sculptor’s Studio.

7. Become an official Junior Ranger when you participate in either the paper or digital version of the Junior Ranger Program.

8. Rent a multimedia hand-held photo/video tour or an audio tour wand to learn even more about the sculpture and its story.

9. Take advantage of the immense knowledge of the Memorial’s park rangers when you join a ranger walk or talk.

10. Enjoy a scoop of Thomas Jefferson ice cream from the Carver’s Cafe — based on the first written recipe for ice cream in the United States.

Printed copies of this list can be obtained at the Custer Visitor Information Center.