Mt Rushmore

Really interesting discussion - dog will be fine,in the parking Garage, as long as it is not near 100, JMHO.

For the time to see the monument -- I have been probably been to it a dozen times and never spent just an Hour! Come see it in the daylight, then drive some of the most beautiful drives in the country, Come back and see it at night --GOOSEBUMPS! Then the other mountain, Crazy Horse, and Needles, Lake Sylvan couple of Caves,just relax and for us usually three days - a week before we can even think about leaving.

While I am more of a fan of the natural beauty-this area and Mt Rushmore is just Amazing. I have never been to those rocks that I did not feel like the time I visited was just too short. If you ever need to understand more about the area watch the film North By Northwest, then get out and enjoy the Wild and Beautiful sights. I can't wait for the next trip -- likely with a few of the Granddaughter's.

JMHO,

An hour? Yes, you can walk to the viewing area and look at the sculpture and buy a postcard in the gift shop in an hour- but you won't know much about Mt Rushmore when you are done. For us it took at least 3 and maybe 4 hours. I highly recommend the walking path around the base of the sculptures, the movie and museum area, the artists studio with the original model of the presidents and the museum. What those men did with what they had to work with is incredible. Would have liked to see the night time lighting but will have to wait till next visit. If you only spend an hour you are short changing yourself.

If you visit Custer SP while in the area, drive the wildlife loop early morning or late afternoon. The wildlife in the park hide in the trees in the heat of the day. And its a state park, so the NP pass doesn't work. But it isn't expensive.
And take some carrots. Lots of wild burros in the park. In the gold rush days, miners that didn't hit the "mother lode" just turned their pack animals loose and moved on. Their descendants run quite a scam. One stops in the middle of the road to stop traffic and the others go from car to car begging for food. They have lousy eyesight, so use long carrots and hold them by the green part or you could lose a finger. :)

Have been to Mt. Rushmore many times over the last sixty years, you should plan on spending 2-3 hours there to fully appreciate this monument and what it means to many Americans. Enjoy a lunch outside and just relax. Add in a trip through Custer SP also.

I don't think I've ever spent more than an hour there. HOWEVER, there are many, many other interesting attractions in the Black Hills. I probably wouldn't recommend any of them OVER the Faces, but several are at least as enjoyable. A few in no particular order:
Crazy Horse Monument
Custer State Park (Wildlife Loop)
Bear Country USA
Reptile Gardens
Devils Tower Nat'l Monument
Badlands Nat'l Monument
Mammoth Site
Jewel Cave
Wind Cave
Deadwood

Google Black Hills attractions to find others that might interest you. If you've never been there, a couple hours isn't enough time, imho. Take 2-3 days without the dog and enjoy.

We went back three times while we were there. First to see the monument and take a walking tour at the base of the monument and to the sculptors studio, then back that night for the evening lighting program, then back the next morning to have breakfast at the café and sit outside to enjoy the view. We enjoyed it.

Our experience was similar to what THOM02099 has said. Yes, you can certainly see Rushmore in less than an hour. Heck, you can see it in 15 minutes. But for our family, we wanted to know about the monument, how it was built, what was the history. If you are curious at all, you can spend considerable enjoyable time finding out info and truly experiencing an American marvel and salute to great American presidents.

I had a good friend who was a park ranger at Everglades National Park. He said that many visitors would be perfectly happy if they had an alligator chained up outside the visitor center. The family would pile out of the car. The dad would say "OK kids, we've seen the gator, now let's go to Orlando and Disney World. "

If some people's idea of visiting national memorials, national monuments and national parks is like that family, I suppose it is good, because those of us who truly appreciate these national treasures will have a less crowded experience.

michigancougar wrote:
I found it too bad they farmed out the parking etc to a private company - still think it should remain a govt run park!

The Shrine of Democracy at Mt. Rushmore is a federal government park with free access to all.
Vehicle parking issues led to construction of the multi level parkade funded by a non profit organization. free parking was still available nearby on NPS lots through out the '90s and early '00s. Security concerns, vis a vis, terrorisim, destruction of that shrine after 9/11 prompted security to close free parking areas or demand utmost security?
After the World Trade Center towers in NY, DC's Pentagon or Capitol what other target in the US would anarchists target?
So you pay to park up close in a facility that is designed to protect the monument or park in town and walk up or use the trolley service.
Its our new world order.

We were there last August and left our boxers in the Jeep for maybe 45 minutes. We did not see everything but got the pics of the 4 heads (which you can see without paying the big bucks). BTDT and can cross it off the list.

We enjoyed Needles Hwy & the Wildlife Loop in Custer more.

I enjoyed the lighting ceremony at night when we visited.