Hours and Scheduled Events:
Gates: 7:00 A.M. – 10:00 P.M.
Gift Shop: 8:00 A.M. – 10:30 P.M.
Audio Tour: 8:00 A.M. – 8:00 P.M.
Visitor Ctr.: 8:00 A.M. – 10:00 P.M.
Info. Ctr.: 8:00 A.M. – 10:00 P.M.
Sculptor’s Studio: Open 05/29/10
Carvers Café: 8:00 A.M. – 7:00 P.M.
Fudge Shop: 11:00 A.M. – 7:00 P.M
Evening Program/Lighting Ceremony: Nightly at 9:00 P.M. (Program lasts for approximately forty-five minutes.)
June:
09 6 – 8 p.m. Marengo High School Band Choir Amphitheater
13 8:30-9:30 a.m. First Amendment - Amphitheater
15 3:00 P.M. 1st Amend. Concert, Cornerstone Singers of Cornerstone Evangelical Baptist Church
23 4:30 P.M. 451st Army Band Concert
29 6:30-8:30 p.m. Granite Youth Symphony - Amphitheater
30 6-8:00 P.M. Winona, MN H.S. Marching Band-Patriotic Songs
Society Delegation Visits Washington, D.C.
by Society President Gene Lebrun
One of the roles of the Mount Rushmore Society (Society) is to be an advocate for Mount Rushmore National Memorial. For many years, the Society has maintained an
excellent relationship with South Dakota’s congressional delegation and the National Park Service (NPS) headquarters in Washington D.C. Part of that relationship has been annual visits to the congressional offices and the NPS offices in our nation’s capital.
Immediate Past President Al Johnson, Executive Director Diana Saathoff and I were in Washington D.C. March 14 -17 for our 2010 visit. We had the opportunity to spend time with Senator Tim Johnson and Matt Thornblad and Janelle Gren of his staff; Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin and Jonathon Loevner of her staff; and Brendon Plack of Senator John Thune’s staff. Senator Thune was tied up at a committee meeting and was unable to attend our meeting at his office. All three were very aware of the pine beetle problem in the Black Hills and its affect on Mount Rushmore, including the annual Independence Day Celebration. They are working with the National Park Service to address the issues related to fighting the infestation and potential fire danger to the National Forest and Mount Rushmore. This issue is not only a threat in the Black Hills but in many western states, so other congressional offices are already working closely with our delegation. On behalf of the Society, we pledged our support as well. (Al Johnson (l) and Gene Lebrun (r) are pictured in front of the White House.)
We also discussed the desire of the National Park Service and the Society to extend an invitation to President Obama and the First Family to visit Mount Rushmore as part of the 2010 Independence Day activities. All three were very supportive and assured their full cooperation in that effort. As part of the goal of inviting the president to Mount Rushmore, we met with Pete Rouse, deputy chief advisor to the president, and Alyssa Mastromonaco, director of White House scheduling and advance, at the West Wing of the White House on Tuesday, Mar. 16. We made the pitch of why Rapid City and Mount Rushmore would be an excellent venue for the president to address issues of America’s Public Lands and conservation and that July 3 or 4, 2010, would be very timely. Both Mr. Rouse and Ms. Mastromonaco were interested and receptive to the idea and requested additional information about the event and venue. As can be imagined, however, this is not the only invitation that the president has received for the July 4 weekend.
As in prior years, the Society delegation has also visited the National Park Service headquarters on C Street. This year it was a treat to meet and have an opportunity to visit with the new National Park Service Director, Jon Jarvis. Deputy Director Dan Wenk also participated in that meeting. Our discussion with the director included the pine beetle problem, funding matters and the recent Operations Assessment Report.
Finally, we were proud to present a copy of our award-winning publication, Carved High, to each of our congressional delegates, Director Jarvis and the White House. We hope it will be placed in their respective reception areas.
As in past years, I believe these trips to Washington D.C. are very worth while and beneficial to the Society and Mount Rushmore National Memorial. It is a wonderful opportunity for the Society to advocate on behalf of Mount Rushmore, answer questions and emphasize and solidify the Society’s role and support for the Memorial.
Mount Rushmore Cancels 2010 Fireworks Display
by NPS January 13, 2010
Mount Rushmore National Memorial Acting Superintendent John Scott announced today that the use of fireworks will be suspended for the 2010 Independence Day Celebration due to the unacceptable risk they pose to the fragile condition of the Black Hills forests in and around the memorial resulting from extensive damage from an epidemic of mountain pine beetles. The popular annual event has become the summer's biggest patriotic event at the park.
"Due to the beetle epidemic affecting forests surrounding the park, the wildfire hazard during the 2010 summer tourist season will be high to veryhigh. Therefore, the National Park Service is cooperating with partner land management agencies to explore and implement ways to reduce the risk of wildfires, especially human-caused ones", announced Scott.During the last several years the proliferation of mountain pine beetles has resulted in over 330,000 acres of infected and dead pine forests in the Black Hills. The memorial is home to the second largest contiguous stand of old growth ponderosa pine forest in the Black Hills and beetles have infected scattered populations of old growth trees throughout the park.
Xanterra Receives George S. Mickelson Great Service Award
Mount Rushmore National Memorial Superintendent Gerard Baker announced that South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds presented the 2010 George Mickelson Great Service Award to Xanterra Parks and Resorts at the Governor’s Conference on Tourism held in Pierre, SD, in January. Xanterra Parks and Resorts operates the Carvers Café and the retail operation at Mount Rushmore. The award honors a business or organization that promotes hospitality and strives to keep hospitality a leading tourism marketing tool. “They have done an exemplary job of exceeding visitors’ expectations in customer service,” the Governor said. “Their dedication to hospitality and customer satisfaction has provided thousands of visitors with memorable vacations and travel experiences.” The George Mickelson award is named after the South Dakota governor who perished in an airplane accident in 1993.
John Adams Appears to Rapid City Area Middle Schools
Re-enactor Joe Doyle of Pennsylvania portrayed President John Adams to four Rapid City middle schools October 1 and 2. Sponsored by the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Society (Society), this 
free event engaged area 8th grade students about the life, personality and role President Adams had on the country. On Thursday, October 1, Doyle gave a presentation and entertained questions to South Middle School from 8:45 am-9:45 am and to North Middle School from 1:45 pm-2:45 pm. On Friday, October 2, he did the same at Southwest Middle School from 10 am-11 am and to Dakota Middle School from 2 pm-3pm.
Joe Doyle has been portraying the first vice president and second president since appearing as Adams in a June 2000 production of 1776. Due to intense character and period research, he can speak extemporaneously as Adams on virtually any subject. He has appeared as Adams for official ceremonies for the National Archives, White House Visitors’ Center and the Library of Congress, to name a few. Joe enjoys portraying Adams to remind people of the president’s pivotal role in our nation’s history.
This school outreach also served as a kick-off to the Society’s annual presidential dinner which is a fund raiser to support projects and programs at Mount Rushmore National Memorial. This year, the dinner was themed, An Evening with John Adams, and was held Saturday, October 3 beginning at 5pm at Mount Rushmore’s Carvers Cafe. The evening featured Doyle as President Adams and a gourmet meal consisting of a menu that Adams would of served at the White House. A silent auction, live auction and a gourmet wine raffle will be a part of the evening. Xanterra Parks & Resorts and Canyon Lake Liquors, LTD are sponsors.
Presidential Stuffed Sweet Potatoes from "An Evening with John Adams"
by Ruth Samuelsen
6 medium sweet potatoes or yams, scrubbed and rubbed well with oil. Pierce with fork and bake @ 400 until soft (1 hour). Let cool slightly. Slice 1/2 and scoop out the potato. Mash the potato until smooth.
Blend in:
One 8 1/2 oz can crushed pineapple, drained.
One 6 oz can frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed.
1/4 tsp salt.
1/2 cup chopped walnuts.
Stuff potato shells with the mixture.
Refrigerate, covered several hours or overnight.
Heat oven to 400. Bake uncovered 30 minutes.
Sprinkle with 1 cup miniature marshmallows. Continue baking until melted.
Diana Muses on Mount Rushmore--by Executive Director Diana Saathoff
Mount Rushmore stands tall above the fray of our everyday lives. Much can be learned by taking a cue from these stoic carved figures. They remain constant and steadfast while days come and go. For 78 years the faces have looked out over the horizon, peacefully gazing at the rest of the world. A complex and diverse landscape laid out in huge silent puzzle pieces of vast prairie, twisted granite formations from ancient deposits, lush flora and fauna, all broken occasionally by the noise and movement of man.
For millions of years, the mountain has been the physical and spiritual center of the plains. For the last century, the mountain has taken on another role: the representation of the first 150 years of our country, through a man-made sculpture. The marriage of man and nature is never an easy relationship, but carries powerful lessons.
The skill, determination and vision of the parties involved to complete the sculpture still bring a sense of wonder to all who gaze upon Mount Rushmore. The sculpture represents an interesting exercise in executing a difficult --and in many minds unwise-- undertaking. Creative solutions were needed. Creative tension abounded. Clashes were daily; funding was never enough and was never certain. Individuals came and went. But somehow, the dream lived. The passion remained. New leaders emerged as the project ebbed and flowed. This mountain is a tribute to the powers of endurance and persistence and ultimate commitment.
Controversy has never really left the mountain carving. The mountain evokes strong feelings, even before men dreamed of reshaping the façade. And yet, that controversy remains as a testament to the mountain and the art. Great art stirs people to emotion. Great natural beauty heals the soul and tugs at the heart. Mount Rushmore is both- a natural, spiritual beauty and a wonder of imagination and art.
Who created Mount Rushmore? The spirits or man? I say both. Perhaps the greatest mission of Mount Rushmore lies ahead as a simple reminder to all peoples and generations to come that all dreams are possible with a willing heart and courage.