The Story of Mount Rushmore and Custer State Park

Hello fellow travelers! On our second day in South Dakota, we went to see four different spots. The first was The Borglum story. It tells the story of Gutzon Borglum, the sculptor who worked on Mount Rushmore. The second was Mount Rushmore, the famous monument dedicated to 4 of the U.S. presidents. The third stop was Custer State Park, a well known nature preservation. The final stop was Fort Hays, a stagecoach dinner place that was in the movie Dances With Wolves.

The Borglum Story

To understand the significance of Mt. Rushmore, you must first visit the Rushmore Borglum Story. You will be amazed that Gutzon Borglum excelled in so many fields.

Gutzon Borglum was an American artist and sculptor famous for creating Mt. Rushmore, a carving on Stone Mountain near Atlanta and much more.

He was born in 1867 in St. Charles, Idaho. He graduated from Harvard Technical College.

In 1908, Borglum won a competition. The competition was for a statue of the Civil War General Philip Sheridan. This statue was to be placed in Sheridan Circle in Washington, D.C. At the unveiling of this sculpture, President Theodore Roosevelt declared that it was “first rate”.

Borglum sculpted numerous statues and pieces that are located all over the world. Stop into the Rushmore Borglum Story to find out more information on all of them!

The Borglum Story is a small museum. It tells the story of Gutzon Borglum. He is the sculptor behind the famed Mount Rushmore. Sadly, he would not live to see the unveiling of the monument. His son, Lincoln, would take over the massive project.

The interior of the museum has a few sculptures made by Borglum himself. There is also an exhibit where you are not allowed to take photographs. The Borglum Story is extremely interesting. It tells the tale of the famed sculptor. He worked on Mount Rushmore. It also tells the tale of his works before working on the monument.

Dahl’s Chainsaw Art is next to the Borglum Story. They sell handcrafted wooden sculptures, and made the biggest Bigfoot in South Dakota.

A memorial dedicated to the victims of the 1972 Black Hills Flood. The flood occurred because the waterways in the area overflowed due to 15 inches of rain. A more severe flood occurred in Rapid City, not far from Keystone. The Canyon Lake Dam in the area became clogged. It failed as a result. This led to $160 million dollars worth of damage, 122 deaths, and 3,057 injuries.

A historical marker explaining more about the flood.

One of the statues on the property

Mount Rushmore

The famed monument doesn’t need an explanation. The sculpture features the likeness of George Washington, the nation’s first president. It also includes Thomas Jefferson, the third president, Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president, and Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president. Borglum chose these presidents to represent four different qualities of the U.S: the foundation includes George Washington crossing the Delaware River. It also includes Thomas Jefferson’s creation of the Declaration of Independence. Expansion is represented by Thomas Jefferson’s Louisiana Purchase. Development is shown by Theodore Roosevelt establishing the National Park System. Preservation is achieved by Abraham Lincoln’s signing of the Emancipation Declaration, ending slavery for good.

A sculpture of Gutzon Borglum, done by his son, Lincoln Borglum

The list of workers who worked on Mount Rushmore

The Avenue of Flags is a feature at the monument. It has all 50 state flags. It also has the U.S. territory flags of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The monument itself is very beautiful, in fact, it is way more beautiful in person than in photos. The park also has a small amphitheater for special occasions. For example, they had a lighting ceremony to honor U.S. veterans.

The mountain before the carvings

More information on why the presidents were chosen

Some artifacts from the Visitor’s Center.

Custer State Park

Custer State Park is a wildlife preserve and state park located in Custer County. The park is South Dakota’s first and largest state park. Custer State Park is well known for its Wildlife Loop. This loop is an 18 mile stretch of road. Wildlife such as prairie dogs, pronghorn deer, and bison can be seen there.

The entrance to the park.

The Bison Visitor’s Center, which has information on these majestic animals

We came across some feral burros who are actually quite docile.

Some prairie dogs sticking their heads out from their nests

Some pronghorn deer

Fort Hays Old West Town

Fort Hays Old West Town is nestled in the heart of the Black Hills. It brings frontier history to life with hands-on experiences. It also offers cinematic charm. Fort Hays is famous as the filming location for Kevin Costner’s Dances with Wolves. It now welcomes thousands of visitors each season. Guests can explore, eat, and enjoy Western-style entertainment.

What began as a movie set has grown into a unique roadside destination. Guests can walk through an 1800s-era town. They can watch artisans at work. Visitors can even ride a Wild West–themed coaster. Whether you’re planning a family day trip or a group outing, Fort Hays offers fun. It is an immersive experience for all ages. You can also make a quick stop on your way to Mount Rushmore.

Fort Hays Old West Town is a movie set where the movie Dances With Wolves was filmed. Kevin Costner loved the area so much, he decided to move there once filming was done. The town is very cute. They even have a Chuckwagon Supper and Show. It is essentially dinner and a musical.