• Mount Rushmore, Washington, Jefferson, T. Roosevelt, Lincoln framed by ponderosa pine trees under a bright blue sky.

    Mount Rushmore

    National Memorial South Dakota

Management

Mission of the National Park Service at Mount Rushmore National Memorial

The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the national park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.

Purpose

The purpose of Mount Rushmore National Memorial is to:

Commemorate our national history and progress through the visages of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt.

Provide the opportunity for a contemplative visitor experience as related to the sculpture and its setting.

Designations

National Memorial - October 1, 1925

Did You Know?

Did You Know?

Over 90% of Mount Rushmore was carved using dynamite. Dynamite blasts removed  approximately 450,000 tons of rock from the mountain.