Mt Rushmore is one of those places that pops up in the middle of nowhere. The first time I saw this place we were driving up at dusk and as we rounded one of the many turns in the road on the way up, out of the darkness all that you could see in the darkness was the four faces illuminated on the mountain.
To believe that someone devoted a lifetime (well almost a lifetime) making this carving is a testimate to one mans belief in America. In the history channels documentary on the end of earth as we know it, Mt Rushmore will be the last remnants of man which the claim will last well into the thousands of years, thanks to the granite rock it is carved from.
If you have ever seen a documentary on the carving of these faces you know this was a complicated project filled with hard, dangerous work by men who were real men in a time that did not offer much in the way of safety
This is one place that I had to do the helicopter tour and it was well worth the money!
I have been here by car and by motorcycle and if you hit this area during the Harley festival (now it covers all brands) at Sturgis you will find quite the biker party!
Also down the road you'll find the Crazy Horse memorial. A huge, massive carving in the side of a mountain of Chief Crazy Horse which is worth a look, although they've been working on it for 20 plus years and it is still unfinished.
This is another in a long list of National Parks well worth visiting and the drive around this area is awesome.
