When my son was in 5th grade, his English teacher shared a list of places they “must see”. On that list was Mount Rushmore.
In the summer of 2000, when our boys were 8 & 10, we took a 5 week family vacation across the US, with National Parks as our destinations, and Mount Rushmore topped the list. We had all seen the pictures, but nothing compares to the real thing. The incredible feat of men turning a mountain of granite into larger than life works of art is just beyond comprehension. You have to see it to really appreciate it.
That summer, we visited Mount Rushmore, the Badlands, the Black Hills, Devils Tower, Dinosaur NP, Yellowstone, Glacier National Park, Death Valley, Sequoia, Golden Gate Bridge, San Diego Zoo, Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon, Carlsbad Caverns and the St. Louis Arch. Each place was unique and incredible. It was our best vacation ever and holds memories to last a lifetime. Our boys earned junior ranger badges at each park, thanks to the dedicated staff of Park Rangers and both went on to become Eagle Scouts.
We have been to many more National Parks since then. Everyone should have the opportunity to see and experience the natural beauty, artistic wonders and amazing land we call America.
Sincerely,
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
This colossal sculpture showcases the iconic faces of four former U.S. presidents intricately carved into a mountain in South Dakota's Black Hills. The 60-foot-tall profiles of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln were intended to represent the first 150 years of America's history and cultural heritage.
State(s): South Dakota
Established: 1925
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Greetings from Mount Rushmore National Memorial
I stopped in many places during a 1993 US road trip. My visit to Mt Rushmore had particular meaning because I have a BA in American History and have read several presidential biographies. I think the current historical trend, to explore both the negative and positive aspects of America’s history…
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