Mount Rushmore Sightseeing Tours

Big Thunder Gold Mine - Keystone, SD

Big Thunder Gold Mine Sign

Have you ever wondered what life was like during the 1880 gold rush? This attraction will bring you back to those exciting times.

Think the Mount Rushmore monument itself is all a trip to Mount Rushmore has to offer? Think again! From trains and landmarks to caves and Indian reservations you'll be taken back to a simpler time and a peek into the deep history of the great state of South Dakota! The unique tours presented in the greater Mount Rushmore area will fill your days with stories of the Wild West, gold mines and landmarks, both natural and man made.

• Take the family panning for gold and tour a real Gold Mine at Big Thunder Gold Mine. Learn about life in the late 1800's and how the possibility of a new vein of gold ore in this mine is generating more interest today!
• Look upon the faces of past presidents immortalized forever in the Mount Rushmore Tour. You'll begin at the Borglum Historical Center where you will learn about the sculptor, view the majesty of Mount Rushmore National Memorial, watch history being born at The Crazy Horse Memorial (the world's largest mountain carving in progress) and view breathtaking scenery in Custer State Park and Harney Peak.
• Glide along the rails through the mountains and past some of the most breathtaking scenery in the U.S. aboard a Wild West train. Then it's back to the Mount Rushmore National Memorial at dusk for a spectacular lighting ceremony in the 1880 Train and Mount Rushmore Lighting Ceremony Tour.
• For an up-close look at the scenery surrounding Mount Rushmore, the Black Hills Circle Tour takes you through Custer State Park and past the Crazy Horse Memorial.
• If your childhood dreams of being a cowboy or cowgirl in the wild-west just never quite went away then the Deadwood/Lead Historic Tour is just what you need. Walk in the footsteps of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane through the streets of Deadwood and visit the saloons of the past frequented by these wild-west outlaws.
• Visit the nation's first national monument on the Devil's Tower Tour. Trek to the top of the tower or enjoy the view from below and learn how this splendid natural landmark was formed.
• For a true gem and a bit of mystery take a walk through caves and get a peek at some natural wildlife on the Jewel Cave/Wind Cave Tour
• If you've set your sights on "bigger things," the Mammoth Site of Hot Springs -- Hot Springs, S.D., is for you. You'll visit a paleontology lab and see the remains of one of the most awe-inspiring animals to ever walk on our continent.
• Learn about the rich history and present situation of the Sioux Indians on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation Tour.You'll get an up-close look at how these gallant people have lived their lives for hundreds of years.
• Mix shopping and history on the Wall Drug/Badlands Tour. Visit the drug store that became home to over 26 shops, enjoy the majestic scenery and learn about the past of this area.

Mount Rushmore is fun for the whole family and a wonderful educational experience. The area has something to offer everyone from the shopper to the child at heart. The tranquil setting of the entire area will help you relax and unwind from the hustle and bustle of daily life and the stories that are told will transport you back in time.