Membership in the Mount Rushmore Society/History Association

Membership Brochure

Perhaps you came to our website to shop for books . . . or find out about the Mount Rushmore fireworks . . . or even see what the next Institute forum will be about? Did you know that these are all programs of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Society? Let me explain how we all fit together and how you can be a part of helping us support Mount Rushmore!

The Mount Rushmore National Memorial Society has been supporting Mount Rushmore National Memorial since work on the mountain first began. We are one of the nation’s largest and oldest National Park Service friends organizations, raising millions for facility improvements and promotional events since 1930.

Some of the highlights of our partnership with the park include:

• First gift shop concessionaire in the 1940s
• Preservation Fund campaign in the 1980s which raised $25 million and spurred a total of $56 million in facility improvements
• Redevelopment at Mount Rushmore in the 1990s which included a $17 million parking facility still operated by the Society
• Annual Independence Day Celebration fireworks display viewed by millions via satellite

Since 1993, we have also served as a cooperating association under the Mount Rushmore History Association, operating three bookstores in the park and the Mount Rushmore Audio Tour. Sales from these outlets support educational programs and products for the memorial. In fact, this private, nonprofit organization division has contributed over $1.7 million to the park service since 1993 in a variety of ways listed below.

• Fund the Mount Rushmore Audio Tour
• Funding for intern and volunteeer staffing
• Free publications for visitors
• Flags for the Avenue of Flags
• Educational programs
• Interpretive exhibits
• Junior Ranger program
• Scholarships for school bus parking for school groups
• Sculptor-in-Residence program which provides an artist throughout the summer to demonstrate sculpting techniques
• Care of the Lincoln Borglum Museum Collection
• Publishing of promotional material for the park
• Publishing educational books, pamphlets and products with direct input from the National Park Service to increase public awareness of park significance 

The Mount Rushmore Institute is another division of the Society, serving as a forum to advance the cause of freedom and the principles of democracy by implementing forums on various topics.

You, too, can be a part of our mission by becoming a member of of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Society, and thus, advancing the missions of our various divisions that directly impact Mount Rushmore.