Mount Rushmore

Keystone, South Dakota, United States

Mount Rushmore in Keystone, South Dakota, is a monumental tribute to the ideals and evolution of the United States, carved into the granite face of the Black Hills. Known as the “Shrine of Democracy,” the sculpture features the 60-foot-tall visages of four U.S. presidents—George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln—each selected to represent the nation’s founding, expansion, development, and preservation.

Conceived by historian Doane Robinson and brought to life by sculptor Gutzon Borglum and his son Lincoln, the project began in 1927 and concluded in 1941, though funding constraints meant only the presidents’ heads were completed. The memorial spans 1,278 acres and sits at an elevation of 5,725 feet, offering sweeping views of the surrounding Black Hills.

Visitors can explore the site via the Presidential Trail, visit the Sculptor’s Studio to learn about the carving process, and attend the nightly lighting ceremony during summer months. While the monument is a source of national pride, it also stands on land sacred to the Lakota Sioux, raising ongoing conversations about history, heritage, and reconciliation.