On June 23, 2021, we made the scenic drive from Elkhorn Ridge RV Resort to the charming town of Keystone, South Dakota, our gateway to one of America’s most recognizable landmarks: Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
The road into the Black Hills winds through pine-scented air and storybook curves, each mile building anticipation. We followed that road toward Keystone, the small town that serves as the gateway to Mount Rushmore.
As we rolled through Keystone, we knew we were close. We skipped stopping for a selfie photo at the entrance sign as I snapped a shot of the sign instead, determined to beat the crowds we’d heard so much about. But as it turned out, we didn't need to rush. An early start was unnecessary.
Crowds and First Impressions
Contrary to expectations and travel advice, Mount Rushmore in the summer of 2021 was surprisingly uncrowded. There were no lines and there were no crowds. Instead, there was plenty of room to walk around outside in the sunshine and fresh air.
The open-air setting, combined with sunshine and fresh mountain air, made for a relaxed and enjoyable experience.
One of the highlights? You don’t need to hike extensively to get great views. The amphitheater-style seating offers fantastic photo opportunities, though we chose to explore multiple vantage points by hiking around the monument.
We enjoyed hiking and taking in the views and had plenty of space to explore comfortably.
Inside the Museum: How Mount Rushmore Was Built
We began our visit inside the museum, where exhibits detail the incredible engineering behind the monument. Seeing the original tools and learning about the process brought a whole new level of appreciation.
The process was as methodical as it was daring.
In the Sculpture Studio, we learned how sculptor Gutzon Borglum transformed his vision into reality. Over 400 workers used dynamite and jackhammers to carve the massive granite faces.
• Planning: Borglum created scale models, where 1 inch represented 1 foot on the mountain.
• Measuring: Using protractors and plumb bobs, measurements were transferred from model to mountain.
• Blasting: About 90% of the rock—an astonishing 900 million pounds—was removed using dynamite.
• Shaping: Workers suspended in bosun chairs drilled precise holes in a method called “honeycombing.”
• Finishing: Hammers, chisels, and specialized drills smoothed the surface to its final form.
Despite the danger, no workers lost their lives during construction—though one was struck by lightning.
Fascinating Facts About the Presidents
The monument features four U.S. presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.
Washington’s face is especially striking, and its placement wasn’t entirely planned. Borglum originally intended Jefferson to appear on Washington’s right, but poor rock quality forced a redesign. After partially carving Jefferson’s face, the team blasted it away and repositioned him on Washington’s left.
• Each head is about 60 feet tall
• Washington’s nose measures 20 feet
• His mouth spans 18 feet
• Each eye is 11 feet wide
If his full body had been carved to scale, Washington would stand as tall as a 40-story building.
Wildlife in the Black Hills
The Black Hills are more than a backdrop; they are a living landscape. Mountain goats, introduced in the 1920s, now navigate the steep granite cliffs with ease, often seen perched in places that seem impossible to reach.
We didn’t spot any during our visit. In the summer heat, they tend to retreat to higher elevations, leaving the lower trails to human visitors.
A Lasting Impression
There’s something powerful about standing before Mount Rushmore—not just the scale or the craftsmanship, but the sense of permanence. Carved into ancient stone, the monument feels both rooted in history and suspended in time.
As we took one last look and turned back toward the road, the experience lingered. Ahead lay another destination, the Crazy Horse Memorial. But Mount Rushmore had already left its mark.
In the quiet of that summer day, without crowds or rush, it offered something rare: space to reflect, to learn, and simply to stand in awe.
Mount Rushmore truly lives up to its reputation. Seeing it in person, the scale, the craftsmanship, the history, is unforgettable.
For more amazing pictures of our visit to Mount Rushmore, visit https://beautifuldaytraveler.wordpress.com/
Debra Parmley is a best-selling, award-winning, multi-genre author of over 38 books, specializing in military romantic suspense and contemporary western romance set in Montana and Wyoming.
Known for her authentic portrayal of veteran heroes, she is the author of Montana Delta Rodeo Cowboy: Bodyguard Protector, and popular titles in the Brotherhood Protectors World, including Montana SEAL Protector, Montana Delta Rescue, and Montana Marine. Her new Green Brotherhood SEAL Team XII series is set in Virginia Beach, VA where she lived for a season.
Drawing from her life as an adventurous traveler and the wife of an Air Force veteran, Debra crafts high-stakes stories of danger and redemption from her current home in North Carolina in the summer months. In the winter, she and her husband, who live fulltime in a motor home, become snowbirds living in Florida.
Whether writing gritty suspense, or romantasy in her new Reenactment Realm series, or fairytales as Debra Bishop, her work is guided by the core belief that “Every day we are alive is a beautiful day.”
In her Tales from the Trailer articles for Fresh Fiction, she shares the RV lifestyle and travel adventures in the U.S. from the point of view of a working author.
No comments posted.
© 2003-2026