Mount Rushmore Audio Walking Tour

Mount Rushmore welcomes three million visitors from around the world every single year. It has come to represent American freedom and hope for people of all backgrounds and cultures. Learn about the people who put in hard work making this monument, the stories behind the presidents chosen, and the ways that the National Park Service preserves this beautiful landmark today. 

Each tour lets you explore and learn at your own pace. It is a leisurely walk and you'll have many opportunities for photos along the way. You'll know a lot more about the area and its history than the person next to you who isn't doing one of these awesome tours! These are a great addition to any vacation getaway to Mount Rushmore! Be sure to check out similar activities in the area.

Brief History of Mt. Rushmore

This history dates back to the 1920s when Doane Robinson, a South Dakota historian, wished to draw more tourists to the Black Hills. At first, he wanted to carve some of the nation's most famous heroes into 'The Needles', a couple of granite pillars in the area. Robinson contacted Gutzon Borglum for the task and ultimately, they chose the current site for the sculpture after searching for a while. They chose the four men: Washington,  Lincoln, Jefferson, and Roosevelt to draw national attention to the site.
Raising money for the project was not an easy task; many people did not like that they would be desecrating the natural landscape. Finally, a bill was passed to give $250,000 to the project. 400 workers helped with the sculpting, including Native Americans. The project took many years due to lack of funding over time. It was finished on October 31, 1941.