Shopping Around in the Greater Mount Rushmore Area

Hotel Alex Johnson - Rapid City

Hotel Alex Johnson

We'll start the hunt in Keystone, which is located just 2 miles from Mount Rushmore and is home to some of the best deals around.

Rushmore Mountain Taffy Shop

The taffy here is made fresh daily, and the ingredients do not include preservatives or egg-whites. There are twelve tastebud dazzling flavors - vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, choco-mint, lemon, cinnamon, black walnut, peppermint, banana, molasses, and licorice. There are also sugarless, diabetic assortments available. So, everyone is sure to find something to their liking. Any family or friends back home would be thrilled to get one of their gift baskets as a souvenir.

Black Hills Souvenirs & Gifts

Featuring all the brands of Black Hills Gold jewelry, you won't want to miss this white A-frame shop, located right on the "strip." There are also one-of-a-kind pieces of artwork by local artists, available for purchase. Choose from an assortment of gifts such as t-shirts, sweatshirts, sandals, figurines, charms, and much, much more. Here, you'll also get a chance to see their free wildlife exhibit.

Next, we'll move on to Rapid City. There are many shops in Rapid City, including major department stores like JC Penny, but that's not where you'll find the most unique gifts and souvenirs.

Alex Johnson Mercantile

This shop is located next to the historic Alex Johnson Hotel in downtown Rapid City. They specialize in regional arts and crafts, as well as interesting gifts. You'll enjoy such whimsical gifts as hand-painted feathers, original pottery, alabaster statuettes, prints, paintings, and more. They also keep the travelers basics in stock like, stamps, film, and newspapers.

Lastly, we'll travel down the road just a few miles to the town of Custer, South Dakota, where perhaps we find the most unique store.

Claw, Antler & Hide Co.

Obviously, this store specializes in antlers, horns, claws, teeth, furs, feathers, skins, shells, skulls, and bones. However, they do carry some of the more average retail store products, such as apparel, jewelry, fur hats, beads, herbs, home decor items, knives, and more. Your loved ones back home would be thrilled to receive a gift like antelope buttons for their favorite shirt or a porcupine quill bracelet. These unique items deserve to at least be admired if not bought.

There are hidden treasures to be discovered almost everywhere you go. You just need to know where to look. For the most unusual gifts, it's always best to stop at little, family-owned shops that are often found tucked away from the main road. It can take some time to dig up these treasures, but it's almost always worth your time and effort.