Mount Rushmore is one of the most recognized sights in the United States, and it’s definitely worth a brief visit if you’re passing through the Black Hills of South Dakota.

This national memorial contains the enormous faces of four U.S. presidents etched into the rock. Aside from being physically remarkable, it also has some intriguing history behind it.

1. Morning Is A Great Time To Visit

The ideal time to see Mount Rushmore is in the morning. It’s less crowded, less hot (in the summer), and the lighting is fantastic for photography.

This is the finest moment to snap shots of the monument. In the middle of the day, the lighting is more flat, and around sunset, the faces are veiled in shadow.

We came there around 8 AM and this was amazing. We had plenty of time to tour the grounds almost alone, and snap shots without anyone in them. By 10 AM, the monument was already getting very busy.

2. The Entrance Fee Is A Bit Confusing

Even though Mount Rushmore is governed by the U.S. National Park Service, the way it functions is slightly different from the rest of the national parks and monuments.

There’s not an entry charge to Mount Rushmore, but there is a parking cost. This charge is not covered by the annual or lifetime U.S. park passes, which seems a bit strange.

You may check the current parking cost on the NPS website here. It’s certainly worth the expense, because you only need one ticket per car. You can pay for it with cash or credit card at the gate.

3. There’s A Night Lighting Ceremony

If you want to get a unique view of Mount Rushmore, the faces are lighted up after dark every night of the year.

During the summer months, there’s also a lighting ceremony that includes a ranger discussion about the presidents and the history of the United States.

4. It’s An Impressive Feat Of Engineering

The sculpture at Mount Rushmore is a vast and astounding work of engineering.

Each of the heads are 6 floors tall. The noses are roughly 20 feet tall, and the eyes are around 10 feet wide.

Sculpting the monument in granite took 14 years, from 1927 to 1941. It employed roughly 400 laborers, and 90% of the mountain was cut using dynamite.

Even though the labor was often risky, they managed to accomplish it without any of the guys dying in the process.

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5. There’s Some Neat History Behind It

Mount Rushmore was sculpted by Gutzon Borglum, who dedicated it to four significant presidents of the United States: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt.

Washington signifies the birth and foundation of our country. Jefferson represents the growth of the country with the Louisiana Purchase, doubling the country in size.

Lincoln was picked for the preservation of the country during the Civil War; and Roosevelt, for the rise of the country as a world power going into the 20th century.

Originally, Borglum’s idea was to sculpt the presidents with whole bodies down to the waist, but after he passed away in 1941, the monument was finished with only their heads.

6. It’s Pretty Easy To Get There

Mount Rushmore is a 30 minute drive from Rapid City, South Dakota, which offers lots of accommodation alternatives and a regional airport.

There’s ample of parking space at the monument as most people opt to drive to it.

There isn’t any public transit to Mt Rushmore, however some firms provide guided tours if you want a live tour guide to manage the transportation, navigation, and agenda for you.

7. It Doesn’t Take Long To Visit

If you’re in a hurry, it actually doesn’t take much time to visit Mount Rushmore. You may accomplish it in as little as 30 minutes.

Start your tour by going along the Avenue of the Flags, which contains 56 flags representing the 50 states, the District of Columbia, three territories (Guam, American Samoa, and the Virgin Islands), and two commonwealths (Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands).

Next, witness the classic vista of the presidents’ faces from the main terrace, snap some photographs, and get back on your way. Even a little visit like this is far better than nothing!