SCOUTING YESTERDAY: $56M upgrade brings Mount Rushmore in line with other national monuments

This week in South Dakota history

(National Parks Service)

Visitors at Mount Rushmore National Memorial saw the opening of several new facilities and features following renovations 25 years ago this month.

The Lincoln Borglum Visitor center was opened June 15, 1998, and the National Park Service dedicated the entire project on August 25, 1998.

The 10-year overhaul included renovations and additions to features like The Avenue of Flags, an amphitheater and the Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center. A new handicapped-accessible Presidential Walk Trail was also added, bringing visitors within 500 feet of the monument.

Funds for the $56 million project were raised through donations and investments. No taxpayer money was used. A $17 million loan was the only loan for the project and was used to build the parking ramp. NPS intended that the parking fee be removed once the ramp was paid for.

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