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If you are visiting Mount Rushmore, make sure you take the time to approach the monument from Route 16A, or the Iron Mountain Road, from Custer State Park.

In the five miles leading up to Mount Rushmore, drivers pass through three tunnels and over two pigtail bridges; each of the three tunnels frames a view of Mt. Rushmore, which is not only beautiful to see, but a feat of absolute astonishing engineering!

At the top of Iron Mountain you can pause at a scenic overlook from one of the highest points in the southern Black Hills. There is a large parking lot there (closed in winter, however), and a short trail to the west that offers a terrific view of Mt. Rushmore and the central Black Hills. It is also a nice area for a picnic.

Iron Mountain Road is one leg on the Norbeck Scenic Byway. The north end of this road is not recommended for large RVs or Motorhomes.

Mount Rushmore is one of the few places I think everyone should see; not because it is naturally breathtaking, but rather because it provides an awe-inspiring glimpse of patriotic America.

Yes, it is a bit over-the-top in it’s presentation, and yes you can get a nice view of the memorial simply by driving by without stopping; however, it is worth the effort (and the cash) to spend a little time walking up he promenade and viewing the memorial first hand. And watch others as they view it too. Have you ever visited the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC and just sat on the top step watching people as the walk up to see Lincoln? Well it’s very similar here, and if you’ve done it you know what I am talking about.

Politics aside, if you learn the story of how and why it was done and visit with that in mind, you will leave feeling a little more patriotic than when you arrived.

I used to live here; in fact, our first home was purchased on Fifth Avenue in Victorian Village. We saw the lighted archways installed and watched the neighborhood grow and improve. What a wonderful area.