Mount Rushmore National Park 2 by Jonathan Yogerst

Mount Rushmore National Memorial stands as both an artistic and historical marvel — a monumental tribute to the American spirit carved into the granite face of the Black Hills of South Dakota. The colossal likenesses of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln rise 60 feet high, their stoic expressions illuminated by shifting light that transforms the monument’s tone throughout the day.

The surrounding pine-covered hills and rugged rock formations offer endless compositional opportunities, framing the sculpture within the grandeur of the natural landscape. Mount Rushmore is more than a landmark — it’s an exploration of light, perspective, and national identity, where art and nature converge on an epic scale.