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

    Mount Rushmore

    National Memorial South Dakota

Nature & Science

There is more to Mount Rushmore than meets the eye. Use all five of your senses to discover little known wonders hidden below the sculpture of the four presidents. Mount Rushmore is located in the scenic Black Hills of South Dakota. The Black Hills are also called the "Island in the Prairie," as the granitic hills are surrounded by a sea of open prairie.

Take your time and view the great biological diversity that Mount Rushmore offers. On a typical day you might see several different species of wildflowers, deer, mountain goats, chipmunks and turkey vultures.

You can learn more about nature's diversity at Mount Rushmore by clicking on the links to the left under "Nature and Science."

Want to learn more about Nature and Science in your National Parks? Click here...

  • Caring for a Monumental Sculpture Caring for a Monumental Sculpture

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Did You Know?

Did You Know?

Mountain Goats are not native to the Black Hills. The population can be traced back to six goats, a gift to Custer State Park by Canada in 1924, that escaped from their pens and found their home among the granite peaks of the Black Hills. There are now approximately 200 mountain goats in the area.