See Mount Rushmore

“I’m enjoying the different close-up perspective of the carvings and I keep hearing a rustling noise in some brush nearby. [...] My pontification is suddenly interrupted when a mountain goat presents herself. This is a pleasant surprise but when her baby peeks out of the woods it is a super bonus. The kid gawks at me as if he’s trying to figure out how long my nose is.”

“When we entered the park (which wasn’t very busy thanks to the fog), you couldn’t see a THING. We decided we’d try the Presidential Trail and see if it cleared up at all. And then, as we came around the corner, the fog cleared a bit and suddenly we could see the heads of the monument! It was surprisingly impressive and so fun to see.”

“I had seen many photos and models of Mount Rushmore, but standing there in person, looking up at the gigantic, stoic faces of four United States Presidents carved into the granite above me, I found the photos did the monument little justice. The monument, which is visible from a few points along the road leading up to it, gets more impressive the closer you get. The incredibly lifelike faces carved from stone are a tribute to the sculpting practices of a different generation, and the true dedication to the noble American leaders. From the parking lot, the walk up to Rushmore goes through the Avenue of Flags, where each state flag is hung with a date of its admission into the United States. Once through the flags, there is a large viewing platform, full of tourists from every corner of both the United States and the world, snapping photos and looking on in awe. I heard accents from Texas and New York, as well as French, German, Spanish, and a few I could not place. The power of this place to bring international tourists together was not lost on me.”

“I pull into the parking lot right at the mornings light. The park is free to enter only requiring $10 to park. There are no attendants on duty yet and all gates are open. It is amazing I am the first and only one in the parking lot.”

“We set out one day to find Mount Rushmore. We drove on winding roads lined with dark forests on a gloomy overcast day. As we rounded a corner in the road, I caught my first glimpse of a rugged granite face. A ray of sun came out and danced on that noble face of the man who refused to become King. After all the silliness, kitsch and generally amusing tourist traps, I did not expect much. I did not expect to be charmed. But I was. I did not expect to be awed. But I was. I did not expect to be touched. But I was. I did not expect to be humbled. But I was. What an enchanting and beautiful memorial.”

“We visited Mount Rushmore just after it opened at 6:00 AM, and we were among the only people there which gave incredible access to both photo opportunities and silence to appreciate the carvings without the sounds of other people. We were almost completely alone when we walked along the Presidential Trail, which was wonderful for both photo taking and for putting our cameras down to appreciate Mount Rushmore with our own eyes.”