Patrick King Photos © 2001




National Park Passport

The outer portion of the visitor center shows historic information about the four presidents depicted at Mount Rushmore. The displays show the events of their lives and why their faces were chosen to be a part of the Mount Rushmore Memorial.

The exhibits on the interior area of the visitor center have huge historical photos taken during the construction of the Mount Rushmore Memorial. Along with these photos, there are the master models of each president's face that were used to create the larger faces on the mountain. Each inch on a model represents a foot on the mountain.

Various types of the actual equipment are displayed including the swings and cages which were used as the men worked on the mountain.

Also, there are televisions to see videos of some of the construction process. One video is connected to a plunger to set off dynamite blasts. You first select a location on the mountain and then push the plunger. You then see and hear the explosion as a portion of the mountain is blasted away.

Be sure to get your National Park Passport  stamped while at the Vistor Center.