Where the Flag Flies Proudest: A Nation Tested and Transformed
Welcome to Part 2 of our patriotic travel series, Where the Flag Flies Proudest! If you are just joining us, welcome — and if you missed Part 1, simply click the arrow below to start at the beginning. For those of you who have been following along, welcome back! In Part 1, we explored the cobblestone streets of colonial Philadelphia and the shores of Baltimore, visiting the very places where our flag and national anthem were born. Now we pick up where history left us — moving into one of the most turbulent and defining chapters in American history. In Part 2, we travel to the hallowed grounds of the Civil War era and beyond, visiting the places where the nation was tested, torn apart, and ultimately proven stronger for it.
Gettysburg National Military Park
From Baltimore we head northwest to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, home to one of the most visited and emotionally moving historic sites in the country. In just three days in July of 1863, more than 50,000 soldiers lost their lives on these fields, forever changing the course of the Civil War and the fate of the nation. Gettysburg National Military Park preserves this hallowed ground and stands as a solemn and powerful tribute to those who fought and died here — a place where the weight of history is felt with every step. It was also here that President Abraham Lincoln delivered one of the most famous speeches in American history, the Gettysburg Address, reminding a grieving nation that the sacrifice of those soldiers would not be in vain.
Gettysburg National Military Park covers 6,000 acres and includes more than 1,300 monuments, markers, and memorials. There are many ways to explore this hallowed ground, whether you prefer to wander and discover at your own pace, follow a sixteen-stop self-guided audio tour, or sit back and let someone else do the driving on a guided bus tour.
Before setting off on your exploration, make your first stop the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center, where you can set the stage for your visit in three remarkable ways. First, watch “A New Birth of Freedom,” a 22-minute film narrated by Morgan Freeman that prepares you for what you are about to experience. Next, take in the Gettysburg Cyclorama, a fully restored 360-degree painting depicting Pickett’s Charge. Finally, explore the Gettysburg Museum of the American Civil War, where authentic artifacts and interactive exhibits bring the battle and the broader Civil War to life. Film and Cyclorama showings run every 15 minutes, and one ticket covers all three experiences. Adult tickets are $20.75, with a $1 discount for veterans and seniors 65 and older. Children ages 6–12 save $5, and active military and children age 5 and under are admitted free. The Museum and Visitor Center is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with reduced hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in December, January, and February.
Before you leave the Visitor Center, don’t miss Ticket to the Past: Unforgettable Journeys, an exciting new virtual reality experience available for ages 6 and older. Travel back to 1863 and have virtual encounters with real people from history, choosing to follow the story of Cornelia Hancock, Eli Blanchard, or Basil Biggs. You will even witness the arrival of President Abraham Lincoln on the evening before he delivered the Gettysburg Address. Adult tickets are $9.75, with a $1 discount for seniors 65 and older, AAA members, and veterans, and a $2 discount for ages 6–12. The first experience begins 30 minutes after the Visitor Center opens and the last begins 30 minutes before closing. Save $4.75 by bundling this experience with a film, Cyclorama, and museum ticket or a bus tour ticket.
ree ranger programs are also held at the Visitor Center on select days and times and are not to be missed. The 30-minute Civil War Soldier program allows you to experience the war through the eyes of the soldiers who marched and fought in the battles. The 40-minute Care of the Wounded program explores how Gettysburg became a hospital after the fighting ended, highlighting the courage and sacrifice of soldiers, surgeons, nurses, and civilians alike. The 20-minute Cannoneers to Your Post program invites visitors to step into the role of artillery men and discover how speed, precision, teamwork, and nerve could decide the fate of a battlefield.
When you are ready to explore the park itself, you have several options. For those who prefer to ride, a self-guided audio tour is a wonderful choice — maps and a list of stops are available at the Visitor Center. Prefer to let someone else do the driving? A two-hour bus tour departs from the Museum and Visitor Center, with a licensed battlefield guide narrating as the bus makes stops at some of the battlefield’s most legendary locations. Adult bus tour tickets are $43 and ages 6–12 are $26. Please note that the bus tour is not wheelchair accessible. For a more personalized experience, a car tour can be arranged 24 hours in advance, with a licensed battlefield guide riding along in your vehicle to provide an in-depth narration of the battlefield and its sites. A two-hour car tour is $84 and a three-hour tour is $120. Both tours begin and end at the Museum and Visitor Center.
If you prefer to explore on foot, special ranger-guided walks are available at various times and locations throughout the year, and all are free and open to the public. The 90-minute Gettysburg History Hike takes visitors to Cemetery Ridge, where some of the fiercest fighting of July 2–3, 1863 took place. For a shorter outing, the Devil’s Den Hike, the National Cemetery Tour, the First Day of Battle hike, and the Third Day and Beyond hike are each 45 minutes in length. The First Day of Battle follows the fighting of July 1, 1863, while the Third Day and Beyond visits the site of Pickett’s Charge and explores the climactic moment of the battle. The Culp’s Hill Hike and Little Round Top Hike each run 60 minutes. For the most in-depth experience on foot, consider the battle walk, a two to three hour tour that takes you across the areas where key moments of the battle unfolded.
For a more relaxed outdoor experience, join Campfire with a Ranger, a 60-minute program held at the Park Amphitheater where knowledgeable park rangers present programs on a wide variety of topics related to the Battle of Gettysburg and the Civil War.
In addition to the park’s many monuments and memorials, be sure to explore several nearby historic sites that add even more depth to your visit. The Eisenhower National Historic Site was the weekend home and farm of President Dwight D. Eisenhower and a gathering place for world leaders. Take a self-guided tour of the grounds to see the gardens, tea house, skeet range, putting green, and Angus cattle barns. The home is open for tours in spring, summer, and fall, and in December a special open house holiday tour showcases the home decorated just as Mamie Eisenhower did. All tours are free and open to the public, the grounds are wheelchair accessible, and the grounds are open daily from sunrise to sunset.
The George Spangler Farm and Field Hospital is the best preserved field hospital from the battle. See the exterior of the stone farmhouse where the Spangler family remained in just one room while the Union 11th Corps converted their home into a field hospital. Visit the bank barn that served as the hospital where both Union and Confederate soldiers received care, and explore the summer kitchen where Confederate General Lewis A. Armistead died from wounds sustained during Pickett’s Charge. This site is open in spring, summer, and fall, with select dates offering guided tours, living history, docent-led walks, and special programming. Tickets are $10, or $5 with a Film, Cyclorama, and Museum ticket.
The Gettysburg Lincoln Railroad Station, which opened in 1859 and ran its final train on December 31, 1942, is a historic site that witnessed the arrival of President Lincoln on the eve of the Gettysburg Address and also served as the first field hospital on the eve of the battle. Restored to its stately appearance in 2006, the station is free to visit. It is open Thursday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from May 1 through Labor Day, and Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from September 11 through October 31. It is also open on Dedication Day, November 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Gettysburg National Cemetery is the hallowed ground where President Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address. Plan to spend at least 45 minutes reflecting and walking the grounds, and be sure to take in the striking 60-foot statue featuring the figure of Liberty surrounded by the figures of War, Clio the Muse of History, Plenty, and Peace. The cemetery is open daily from sunrise to sunset.
Finally, the David Wills House is where President Lincoln stayed the night before delivering his address. David Wills was instrumental in organizing proper burials for fallen soldiers and planning the National Cemetery. Please note that the house is currently closed but is expected to reopen in November.
Gettysburg has plenty to offer younger visitors as well. Inside the Visitor Center, look for the themed Hands-On History carts, where park rangers and educators invite children to explore the people and stories of the battle using hands-on replicas and original Civil War artifacts. The Join the Army program is designed for children ages 5 to 13 and offers an immersive look at what it meant to be a soldier during the Civil War. The Junior Ranger Program provides a fun and educational booklet and materials available at the Museum and Visitor Center information desk. Just a short distance from the Visitor Center, the Children of Gettysburg 1863 Children’s Museum, located in the historic Rupp House, brings history to life for young visitors. On select dates and weekends during the summer, living historians can be found on the grounds. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from April 1 through October 14, and Thursday through Sunday from October 15 through March 31, with last admission one hour before closing. Tickets are $9.95 for adults and $5 for ages 6–12, with a $1 discount for seniors, AAA members, veterans, and active military. Children age 5 and under are free.
As you can see, there is truly no shortage of things to see and do at Gettysburg National Military Park. A word of advice — don’t try to rush Gettysburg. Plan for a full day at minimum, and if your schedule allows, two days would do this remarkable place justice. For those who want an even more immersive experience, consider spending the night right inside the park at either the Bushman House or the Slyder House. The Bushman House served as the staging ground for Confederate General John Bell Hood’s attack on Little Round Top and Devil’s Den, while the Slyder House’s fences and stone walls became defensive works for Union sharpshooters — and may look familiar, as it was used as a backdrop for Robert E. Lee’s headquarters in the film Gettysburg. Both homes offer a fully equipped kitchen, central heat and air, bed linens, pillows, and a limited supply of towels. Reservations can be made up to six months in advance, with a minimum two-night and maximum six-night stay required.
For more information, visit www.gettysburgfoundation.org and www.nps.gov/gett/index.htm.
Arlington National Cemetery
From Gettysburg, we travel southeast to Arlington, Virginia, to visit Arlington National Cemetery, located just across the Potomac River from Washington D.C. Our visit begins at the Welcome Center, where you can pick up maps and brochures, browse exhibits that tell the story of the cemetery, and purchase tour tickets.
An interpretive tour tram departs from the Welcome Center every 30 minutes from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, making six stops along the way: the gravesite of President John F. Kennedy, the gravesite of General John J. Pershing, the Memorial Amphitheater and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington House, Ord & Weitzel Gate near the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial, and the Coast Guard Memorial. On weekends, a stop at Section 60 is added to the route. Between stops, an experienced tour guide narrates, sharing fascinating stories about the monuments and memorials found throughout the cemetery’s 639 acres. The tram travels a continuous 45-minute loop, allowing visitors to disembark at any stop and explore at their own pace before boarding the next tram. Tickets are $21.50, and the tram is wheelchair accessible. Visitors with disabilities and one companion ride free. If you prefer to explore on foot, several self-guided walking tours are also available. Visit education.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Tours for more information.
In addition to President Kennedy and General Pershing, many other notable figures are buried at Arlington. Among them are Medal of Honor recipients, astronauts including Apollo 11 command module pilot Michael Collins, John Glenn, and Virgil “Gus” Grissom, actors and actresses such as Audie Murphy and Maureen O’Hara, writers and journalists including Dashiell Hammett, the author of The Maltese Falcon and The Thin Man, musician Glenn Miller, prominent military figures such as General James H. “Jimmy” Doolittle and General Colin L. Powell, artists, architects, explorers, foreign nationals, doctors and nurses, congressmen, civic leaders, athletes, and Supreme Court Justices. President William Howard Taft, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and Abraham Lincoln’s son Robert Todd Lincoln are also laid to rest here.
Throughout the cemetery, there are numerous monuments and memorials worth seeking out. The Challenger Memorial in Section 46 honors the brave astronauts who lost their lives in the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion, and the remains of some of those astronauts are buried beneath it. Other notable memorials include the Pan Am Flight 103 Memorial and the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial.
The Memorial Amphitheater, dedicated on May 15, 1920, is the site of three major annual memorial services — Easter, Memorial Day, and Veterans Day — with the President traditionally delivering the address during Memorial Day ceremonies. As you take in the grandeur of the space, be sure to notice the inscriptions on the frieze above the colonnade, which include a list of 44 battles fought by the U.S. military, the names of 14 U.S. Army generals and 14 U.S. Navy admirals from before World War I, and quotations from George Washington, Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, and Horace. Here is a fun fact worth knowing: when the amphitheater was being built, a copper box was placed in the cornerstone containing copies of the Bible, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, a United States flag as it appeared in 1915, a map of Pierre Charles L’Enfant’s design for Washington D.C., one of each coin and postage stamp in use in 1915, an autographed photo of President Woodrow Wilson, and other documents pertaining to the history of the amphitheater and Washington D.C.
Adjacent to the amphitheater stands the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the sacred resting place of unidentified military members from World War I and beyond. The north and south side panels of the tomb are each carved with three wreaths — six in total — which were originally meant to symbolize “a world of memories” and now represent the six major World War I American campaign battles. On the front of the tomb, three carved figures represent Peace, Victory, and Valor. On the back of the tomb, facing the amphitheater, is the inscription: “Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God.”
The tomb is guarded around the clock by soldiers of “The Old Guard,” elite sentinels who maintain a flawless watch 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in all weather conditions, adhering to strict ceremonial traditions to honor America’s fallen. Every element of the sentinel’s march is based on the number 21, symbolizing the 21-gun salute — the highest military honor a service member can receive. The sentinel takes 21 steps across the black mat, faces the tomb for 21 seconds, turns, and repeats the process. The changing of the guard is a deeply moving and unforgettable ceremony that should not be missed. From April 1 through September 30, changes occur every 30 minutes. From October 1 through March 31, changes occur every 60 minutes.
Arlington House, constructed between 1802 and 1818, was built by George Washington’s step-grandson, George Washington Parke Custis, and served as the nation’s first memorial to our first President. Upon the death of Custis and his wife, the estate passed to their daughter Mary Anna Randolph Custis and her husband, Robert E. Lee. When Virginia seceded from the Union, the Lees departed Arlington House, and the U.S. Army occupied the estate due to its strategic position on the high ground across from the nation’s capital. After the war, 200 acres of the property became Arlington National Cemetery. In 1863, Freedman’s Village — a community established for freed slaves — was founded on the southern portion of the property, remaining there until 1900 when it was closed and the land was incorporated into the cemetery.
Arlington House, its grounds, the museum, and both the north and south Enslaved People’s Quarters are open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with last entry to the plantation house at 4 p.m. The free self-guided tour takes you through the South Wing, where you will find Robert E. Lee’s office, the family parlors, and the center hall, all furnished with period furniture and objects associated with the Lee family, George Washington, and George Washington Parke Custis. The museum contains exhibits and artifacts about Robert E. Lee and his family, and the two slave quarters help tell the story of those who were enslaved at Arlington House. While visiting, be sure to join a park ranger for a 20 to 30 minute history talk, held daily at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. behind Arlington House.
Arlington National Cemetery is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission is free. However, no amount of words can truly prepare you for the experience of walking these grounds. The rows upon rows of white marble headstones stretching across 639 acres serve as a powerful and humbling reminder of the tremendous sacrifice made by so many in defense of the freedom we cherish. Plan to spend at least half a day here, though many visitors find themselves lingering far longer than they expected.
For more information, check out www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/visit and www.arlingtontours.com.
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
From a place that honors those who fought to defend American freedom, we now travel northeast to a place that has welcomed millions seeking it. Our next stop is New York Harbor and the iconic Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
Standing 305 feet from ground to the tip of her torch, the Statue of Liberty is the universal symbol of freedom and democracy. A gift from France to the United States, she was dedicated by President Grover Cleveland on October 28, 1886, and became a national monument in 1924. Every detail of Lady Liberty tells a story. Her torch, primarily symbolizing enlightenment and freedom, serves as a beacon of hope and opportunity — a concept reinforced by the statue’s official name: Liberty Enlightening the World. The crown’s seven points represent the seven continents and seas, symbolizing liberty spreading across the globe, while its 25 windows represent the gemstones of the Earth and the heavenly rays of light shining out into the world. In her left hand she holds a tablet inscribed with the Roman numerals for July 4, 1776, representing the book of law. At her feet, broken chains symbolize freedom from oppression. Mounted inside the pedestal is a bronze plaque engraved with the words of Emma Lazarus’s beloved sonnet, ‘The New Colossus,’ which speaks to the very heart of what Lady Liberty represents.
Once on Liberty Island, be sure to visit the Statue of Liberty Museum and its three interactive galleries. Through an immersive theater experience, visitors can explore the origins of the statue and enjoy a stunning virtual fly-through inside Lady Liberty herself. In the Engagement Gallery, discover the fascinating process of the statue’s design, fabrication, and construction. In the Inspiration Gallery, marvel at the original torch and document your visit by adding a self-portrait to a digital collage called Becoming Liberty. Before leaving the museum, make your way to the roof deck for spectacular views of the Statue and New York Harbor.
Tickets to Liberty Island are $26 for adults, $23 for seniors 62 and older and military, and $17 for children ages 4–12. An audio tour is included with admission. Free 35-minute park ranger tours depart from the flagpole, with times posted at the information desk next to the museum. For an additional $0.30, you can access either the statue’s pedestal or crown. Reaching the top of the pedestal requires climbing 215 steps — approximately 10 stories — though elevators are available for those unable to climb. Please note that wheelchairs are unable to access the outdoor observation deck or balcony. Accessing the crown requires climbing 162 steps in a tight helix, and crown visits are limited to 10 minutes. All visitors accessing the pedestal or crown must pass through airport-style security screening. Pedestal and crown tickets sell out quickly and are available up to six months in advance — it is strongly recommended to book three to four months ahead as availability is highly limited. The park is open from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with last entrance to the island at 5 p.m.
The statue is accessible only by ferry, which departs from Battery Park in New York City or Liberty State Park in Jersey City, New Jersey. After a 15-minute ride to Liberty Island, the ferry docks for approximately 10 minutes before continuing on to Ellis Island.
After visiting the statue, make your way to Ellis Island, where entrance is included in your Statue of Liberty ticket. From 1892 to 1954, Ellis Island served as the nation’s busiest immigrant inspection station before being abandoned. In 1965 it became part of the National Park Service, and in 1990 it opened to the public.
The main building, designed to look grand from across the water, features a French Renaissance style with a steel frame, Flemish bond red brick, and four copper-clad cupolas. Upon arrival, pick up a headset at the audio tour desk — audio tours are included in admission. Following the path an immigrant would have taken, begin your tour in the baggage room on the ground floor, where immigrants once dropped off their belongings before being processed. The room now features displays of immigrant luggage. Be sure to take in the Peopling of America exhibit, which spans the 1500s to modern times. Also on the first floor, you will find the information desk and a theater showing Island of Hope, Island of Tears, a powerful 35-minute film narrated by Gene Hackman that features actual historical footage, archival photographs, and firsthand audio accounts of immigrants. If you are interested in genealogy, the American Family Immigration History Center houses a massive searchable database of passenger arrival records for immigrants, crew members, and travelers who entered the United States through major ports. Just beyond this area is another exhibit, New Eras of Immigration, 1945–Present.
Proceeding upstairs to the second floor, you will find the Great Hall — the largest room in the building and the space where immigrants endured thorough medical and legal inspections. Its magnificent Guastavino tile-arched vaulted ceiling soars overhead, and at its peak the hall could process up to 5,000 people a day. Surrounding the Great Hall are exhibits including Peak Immigration Years and Through America’s Gate. If you missed the film on the ground floor, a second theater showing the same film is located on this floor as well.
On the third floor, step into a dormitory room where immigrants were held during the processing phase, and explore the exhibits Restoring a Landmark, Silent Voices, Treasures from Home, and Ellis Island Chronicles.
Upon completing your tour of the main building, step outside to the American Immigrant Wall of Honor, a tribute to immigrants featuring nearly one million individual and family names added by descendants and contemporaries. For a $300 donation, you can add a name to the wall. A digital kiosk inside the museum can help you locate the exact panel location of a specific name. Just steps away is Fort Gibson, which predates Ellis Island as an immigrant processing station. Fort Gibson served as an active garrison and prisoner-of-war camp during the War of 1812, was repurposed as an ammunition supply depot and naval magazine for Union forces in 1861, and was largely buried as the island was expanded to make way for the immigration station in 1890. A portion of its original stone and brick foundation can still be seen today.
If you prefer a guided experience over the audio tour, free daily walking tours led by National Park Service rangers cover the Main Immigration Building and focus on the processing experience immigrants faced. Tours last 30 to 45 minutes, depart from the information desk on a first-come, first-served basis, and are posted at the information desk upon arrival.
For those who want to see even more, the Hard Hat Tour is an unforgettable option. For $55, this 90-minute tour grants access to buildings that are off-limits to the general public, guiding you through the Contagious Disease Hospital and exploring the morgue, laundry facility, kitchen, wards, doctors’ residence, and much more. Tours meet at the information desk, and tickets can be purchased at shop.saveellisisland.org/products/hard-hat-tour.
The grounds of Ellis Island are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the main building is open daily from 9:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The last ferry from the island departs at 6 p.m.
Ellis Island is more than a museum — it is a testament to the courage, resilience, and hope of the millions who crossed an ocean in search of a better life, and whose stories are forever woven into the fabric of this nation. I know this firsthand, having visited Ellis Island years ago. Standing still in the Great Hall, I was struck by an overwhelming sense of presence — as if the echoes of those who had passed through before me still lingered in the air. It is the kind of feeling that is difficult to put into words, but one that stays with you long after you leave. If you have never visited Ellis Island, I cannot recommend it enough. It is an experience that will humble you, move you, and remind you of just how extraordinary the American story truly is.
For more information about these two locations, visit:
Mount Rushmore
From the shores of New York Harbor, we leave the East Coast behind and head west to the Black Hills of South Dakota. It seems only fitting that after visiting a monument that welcomed the world to America’s shores, we now journey to one that celebrates the very leaders who shaped the nation those immigrants were so eager to call home. Carved into the granite face of a mountain, Mount Rushmore is one of the most ambitious and awe-inspiring sculptures ever undertaken — and one of the most iconic sights in all of America.
After parking in the parking structure, make your way to the information desk at the park entrance, where you can pick up maps, find Black Hills travel information, and rent an audio tour for $6. Junior Rangers can also pick up their activity booklets here.
From the information desk, head outside to the Avenue of Flags, a breathtaking walkway lined with 56 individual flags representing the 50 states, one district, three territories, and two commonwealths that make up the United States of America. The flags are arranged in alphabetical order, and each flagpole base bears a plaque identifying the state, territory, or district it represents. As awe-inspiring as this walk is, it is merely a preview of what awaits you at the end. At the conclusion of the Avenue of Flags, the Grand View Terrace opens up before you, offering a magnificent view of the carved faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. From June through September, 30-minute Ranger Talks and Hoop Dance Performances — including audience participation and live music — are held here for visitors to enjoy.
Beneath the terrace, accessible by stairs or elevator on either side, is the Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center. Its exhibit hall displays the actual tools used to carve the monument, dynamite boxes, and massive plaster models of the presidents’ faces. A 14-minute documentary, Mount Rushmore: The Shrine, details the history, methods, and workers behind the construction and plays in the on-site theater. A bookstore offering souvenirs and educational materials is also located within the visitor center.
At the base of the monument and in front of the Visitor Center sits the Amphitheater, a 2,500-seat outdoor venue that hosts an evening program from late May through September. This 45-minute program opens with a short ranger talk on the history and significance of the monument, followed by a 20-minute captioned film focused on the nation’s history and the civic contributions of the four presidents. The program concludes with the playing of the National Anthem as the colossal granite faces are dramatically illuminated against the night sky. In a deeply moving finale, the ranger invites all active military personnel and veterans in the audience to come down to the stage for a formal honoring and flag-folding ceremony. We had the privilege of attending this program on a Memorial Day visit several years ago, and the pride and patriotism in that amphitheater were absolutely palpable. It is an experience that is both humbling and deeply moving — one that makes you proud to call America home.
From the Grand View Terrace, set out on the Presidential Trail. The first 0.2 miles is paved, flat, and fully wheelchair accessible, leading to a central viewing platform. From there, descend 262 steps to the Sculptor’s Studio, where Gutzon Borglum — the sculptor who began the carving of Mount Rushmore — worked from 1939 until his death in 1941, at which point his son Lincoln took over the project. Here you can view the 1/12th scale model of the monument, and rangers are on hand to answer questions and present 15-minute talks about the workers, tools, and techniques used in the carving. The Sculptor’s Studio is open from late May through September 30, and an elevator has been added for accessibility. Continuing past the Studio, climb 160 steps to arrive back at the terrace.
Four short side trails branch off the Presidential Loop Trail, each offering something unique. At Heritage Village, visitors can explore the history of the Black Hills and the Lakota, Nakota, and Dakota peoples. From late May through September, historian and storyteller Sequoia Crosswhite presents engaging programs on the area’s rich cultural history. The next side trail leads to Washington’s Window, where a distinctive view of George Washington can be seen through a natural crack in the rock. Continuing along the Presidential Trail, you will pass dedicated viewpoints for each president, beginning with President Lincoln and President Washington, followed by the Talus Terrace — the closest any visitor can get to the actual carving — where the sheer scale of the granite removal becomes strikingly apparent. From there, the trail continues past the Thomas Jefferson and President Roosevelt waysides before reaching the Borglum View Terrace, the final viewpoint before the trail loops back to the beginning. Here, visitors can learn about Gutzon Borglum and the remarkable timeline that brought his vision to life. Just before the trail’s end, one last side trail leads to the Historic View Terrace. Each viewpoint along the trail offers a different and equally rewarding perspective — it is well worth taking the time to visit every one.
For those looking for additional outdoor recreation, the Blackberry Trail is a moderately strenuous one-mile gravel path located directly across from the Mount Rushmore parking facility. The trail features several small water crossings, a wooden bridge, and two picnic tables, and even includes horse tie-up stations for those who want to experience it on horseback. The Blackberry Trail also connects with the Centennial Trail, a 124-mile route spanning the diverse landscape of South Dakota’s Black Hills.
Before leaving, make sure to stop by Carver’s Café or the Memorial Team Ice Cream Parlor — open during the summer months — for a scoop of Thomas Jefferson Vanilla Ice Cream, served in a cup or cone. This delightful treat is a recreation of President Jefferson’s original handwritten ice cream recipe from the 1780s. We enjoyed a scoop during our visit and can tell you firsthand — it is absolutely worth it, especially on a warm summer day!
One of the best tips we can offer for visiting Mount Rushmore is to experience it at different times of the day. As the sun rises in the east, it shines directly on the southeast-facing monument — a placement that was intentionally chosen to capture maximum sunlight from dawn through the early morning hours. At sunset, the sun setting behind the peak casts a dramatic silhouette and a beautiful golden glow over the surrounding Black Hills. And as darkness falls, the monument is illuminated by floodlights, offering yet another stunning perspective. Each time of day reveals something new and equally breathtaking.
Mount Rushmore is open year-round. From March 10 through September 30, the parking structure and memorial grounds are open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. In October, the park closes at 9 p.m., and during the winter months the park opens at 6 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m. The Visitor Center is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. from May 22 through August 9, closing at 9 p.m. from August 10 through September 30, at 6 p.m. in October, and at 5 p.m. during the winter months. If you are looking to avoid the crowds, the least busy times to visit are May, September, and October, while June, July, and August tend to be the busiest. Entrance to the park is free, though parking is $10 per vehicle or $5 for visitors ages 62 and older.
Having visited Mount Rushmore ourselves, we can tell you that no photograph or film can truly prepare you for the moment you round the corner and those four magnificent faces come into full view. It is a sight that stops you in your tracks and fills you with an indescribable sense of pride and wonder.
For more information, visit www.nps.gov/moru/index.htm.
A Nation’s Story, Forged in Struggle
What a journey Part 2 has been! From the bloodstained fields of Gettysburg to the granite peaks of the Black Hills, the destinations in this second installment of Where the Flag Flies Proudest tell the story of a nation that was tested, torn apart, and ultimately proven stronger for it. Each of these places carries a piece of the American story — a story of sacrifice, resilience, and an unshakable belief in the promise of freedom. These are places worth knowing, worth honoring, and most certainly worth experiencing in person. But our journey is far from over. In Part 3, we shift our focus to the heroes of World War II and the sacred places that stand in their honor — some of the most deeply moving and profoundly humbling destinations in the world. Trust me — you will want to have tissues nearby for this one. You won’t want to miss it!