Well, November and most of December has come and gone. The Presidents from Mount Rushmore were busy in November with their trip to the Big Apple. Here’s a nice recap video of where they went and how much fun they had. Check it out!

We have also announced a winner of the Mount Rushmore’s American Pride Vacation giveaway. Becky has accepted the prize and will be traveling to South Dakota sometime in 2012 with her husband and two children exploring the beauty of this great state.

Thanks for following along as the Presidents visited New York City. Next year is the third and final year of South Dakota Dept. of Tourism’s partnership with Macy’s, we look forward to revisiting this campaign then.

The Black Hills will be featured on a national level this holiday season. “A Christmas in the Black Hills,” a one-hour holiday special filmed in Deadwood and the Black Hills, will premier on Monday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m. CT/6 p.m. MT on Great American Country (GAC).

Hosted by famed country duo Big & Rich, the special also features Thompson Square, Bradley Gaskin, Tracy Lawrence, Andy Gibson and The Farm in holiday scenes and songs around South Dakota’s Black Hills. Performances were filmed for the special at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, on Deadwood’s Main Street, Mt. Moriah Cemetery and the Saloon #10, the 1880 Train in Hill City, the Mickelson Trail, Pactola Lake, a buffalo herd and other locations.

According to GAC, during the special, Big & Rich will perform “Blue Christmas” and “Drunk on Christmas,” an original song by Saturday Night Live’s Jimmy Fallon. Bradley Gaskin sings “Beautiful Star of Bethlehem” while Thompson Square shares their rendition of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” from the back of a horse-drawn sleigh as well as “Christmas in Dixie,” and Tracy Lawrence hops on a 19^th century locomotive for “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” Andy Gibson performs both “The Christmas Song” and “Feliz Navidad” and The Farm contributes their version of “Oh Holy Night.”

Christmas in the Black Hills wraps with the artists joining together for a medley of holiday classics. The special will re-air on GAC throughout the holiday season.

The special will be aired on GAC TV several times during December:

Monday, December 12
8 p.m. (ET) / 7 p.m. (CT) / 6 p.m. (MT)
11 p.m. (CT) / 10 p.m. (MT)

Tuesday, December 13
12 a.m. (ET)
10 a.m. (ET) / 9 a.m. (CT) / 8 a.m. (MT)
7 p.m. (ET) / 6 p.m. (CT) / 5 p.m. (MT)

Wednesday, December 21
8 p.m. (ET) / 7 p.m. (CT) / 6 p.m. (MT)
11 p.m. (CT) / 10 p.m. (MT)

Thursday, December 22
12 a.m. (ET)
11 a.m. (ET) / 10 a.m. (CT) / 9 a.m. (MT)

Friday, December 23
7 p.m. (ET) / 6 p.m. (CT) / 5 p.m. (MT)

Saturday, December 24
4 p.m. (ET) / 3 p.m. (CT) / 2 p.m. (MT)
11 p.m. (ET) / 10 p.m. (CT) / 9 p.m. (MT)

Sunday, December 25
3 a.m. (ET) / 2 a.m. (CT) / 1 a.m. (MT)

The Deadwood Chamber of Commerce, the City of Deadwood, Deadwood Mountain Grand and the South Dakota Department of Tourism partnered to bring GAC to the Black Hills to produce the special.

We’ve breezed through some of the behind the scenes history of Mount Rushmore National Memorial this summer. The Memorial celebrated its 70^th anniversary this year, and we couldn’t be more proud to have this “Shrine of Democracy” in our great state of South Dakota.

In T.D. Griffith’s “America’s Shrine of Democracy: A Pictorial History,” he described the mission of the National Park Service and goal of administrators atMount Rushmore:
In 1941, Mount Rushmore’s administrative and protective responsibility was assigned to the National Park Service. Since that time, Mount Rushmorehas been managed under the spirit and intent of the original act that established the park service. It remains committed to offering a quality visitor experience through multicultural programs and interpretation while protecting this unique resource that is the combination of natural-forested setting and man-made art. A part of protecting the carving means flirting with danger each fall while inspecting the faces and filling cracks in an effort to preserve the memorial. 

And this fall was no different, crews were again inspecting the carving for cracks and filling any imperfections in order to keep the monument its best for years to come. 

Recently, the National Park Service announced that they have again cancelled the fireworks display at Mount Rushmore for the 2012 Independence Day Celebration. However, even without fireworks the previous two years, the park has continued to put on a great event for visitors. According to Mount Rushmore National Memorial, over 21,000 people visited the Memorial onJuly 3, 2011, exceeding the 2009 and 2010 numbers. The primary reason for canceling the fireworks is still because of the risk of a wildfire breaking out.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial plans to once again hold a July 3 celebration, which will include cultural celebrations of American heritage, education sessions, and patriotism events. Several communities in theBlack Hillswill put on a fantastic display of fireworks for crowds to enjoy on July 4 without being of risk for forest fires.

This is the sixth part in a series of Mount Rushmorehistory posts.  The Mount Rushmore National Memorial Society allowed us to share these great pieces of history about Mount Rushmore National Memorial, visit their website for more information. They can also be found on Facebook by searching for “Mount Rushmore National Memorial Society.”

By the 1980s, the park service was faced with steadily increasing visitation and deteriorating facilities that hampered its ability to tell theMount Rushmorestory. With a growing federal deficit and sorely needed improvements at other park service units, federal funding for major improvements at Mount Rushmorewas highly unlikely.

Consequently, in 1989, the Mount Rushmore Society embarked on one of the most ambitious private-sector initiatives in the history ofAmerica’s national parks. South Dakota Governor George Mickelson issued a $2 million dollar challenge that would be matched by state funds. More than 54 South Dakota communities exceeded that challenge by providing $3.5 million to the Preservation Fund. The nationwide campaign raised $25 million, which spurred $56 million in improvements such as the Amphitheater,Lincoln Borglum Museum,Visitor Center,Information Centerand concession buildings.

The campaign also developed new techniques to preserve and monitor the carving as well as protect the Memorial’s historic artifacts, generated unparalleled media attention forMount Rushmore and resulted in new opportunities for visitors toAmerica’s Shrine of Democracy.

In 1992, initial ground breaking for redevelopment took place, and construction continued on the redevelopment for six years. In 1998, the redevelopment design and construction of the current facilities at Mount Rushmore were completed with no federal tax dollars being used to fund the project. The Preservation Fund goal of $56 million was reached by combining $25 million in private and corporate contributions, $14 million from AmFac Concession investments and $17 million from parking facility investments.
-some of this content was written by Mount Rushmore Society Board Member T.D. Griffith who was the Society’s Director of Communications during the Preservation Campaign in the late 1980s which raised millions for the park’s renovations.

This is the fifth part in a series of Mount Rushmorehistory posts. The four previous posts can be found by following the “Mount Rushmore History” tag. The Mount Rushmore National Memorial Society allowed us to share these great pieces of history about Mount Rushmore National Memorial, visit their website for more information. They can also be found on facebook by searching for “Mount Rushmore National Memorial Society.”

Mount Rushmore is the world-renowned mountain carving that gives South Dakota its nickname. Typically, most people, even internationally, recognize the carving. Usually they know it’s in the American West, sometimes they need reminders that it’s in South Dakota. A frequently asked question is why are those presidents’ faces on Mount Rushmore? Not everyone knows…this post will spell out who’s on Mount Rushmore National Memorial and why.

Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln represent the birth, growth, development, and preservation of America.

George Washington (1st president) represents the birth of the United States. He was the “father of our country.” He led the early colonists to win independence from Great Britain and laid the foundation work for what is the American democracy.

Thomas Jefferson (3rd president) represents the growth of the United States since he expanded our country to double its size with the Louisiana Purchase. Jefferson also wrote the Declaration of Independence.

Theodore Roosevelt (26th president) represents the development of the United States, as he was instrumental in building the Panama Canal which opened up trade routes from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, linking the east and the west. Roosevelt also ended the monopolization of large corporate companies to help the working man.

Abraham Lincoln (16th president) represents the preservation of the United States in maintaining the country’s unity during the Civil War, one of America’s greatest trials. He believed it was his duty to preserve the union; he also believed in abolishing slavery.

Funny fact is that initially carvers started with Thomas Jefferson on Washington’s right. After 18 months (that seems like a long time!) the figure was completely dynamited off the mountain. They then began carving Jefferson on the left side of Washington! George Washington’s profile on Mount Rushmore National Memorial can be seen frmo a scenic turnout on South Dakota Highway 244.

This is the third part in a series of Mount Rushmore history posts. The first post and second post can be found by following the links. The Mount Rushmore National Memorial Society allowed us to share these great pieces of history about Mount Rushmore National Memorial, visit their website for more information. They can also be found on facebook by searching for “Mount Rushmore National Memorial Society.” Information from the National Park Service was also used for this post.

For ideas and trip planning tools for your South Dakota vacation, visit www.travelsd.com, follow us on twitter @travelsd or “like” us on facebook by searching for South Dakota Tourism.

Question – What entertainment will be on the Mount Rushmore float at the Macy’s Day Parade?

Answer – The world-famous group, Mannheim Steamroller, will ride on the Mount Rushmore float and perform holiday classics during this nationally broadcasted parade!

So, we’ve been talking about the parade for quite awhile…but tomorrow millions of people from across the United States will tune in to watch the 84th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The Parade airs on NBC stations throughout the country from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. What time zone you might ask? Doesn’t matter – it is scheduled to air from 9-12 no matter where you are tuning in from – think of it like The Today Show, which is on at 7 a.m. no matter where you’re at in the country.

With that being said, since we really want to make sure you get to see this beautiful, grand, brand-new float…we’re letting you in on the specific time to peel your eyes off that dressing and turkey! Make sure you watch from about 10:15 – 10:35 - before the Mount Rushmore float will come Ronald McDonald’s Big Red Show Car & Balloon.

Inflation Eve – takes place the night before the parade every year on 77th & 81st Streets between Central Park and Columbus Ave. Spectators can view the inflation of the balloons from 3-10 p.m. tonight!

Happy Holidays to all of our readers and safe travels! Tune in tomorrow morning and let us know what you think of South Dakota rolling down the streets of New York!

This week’s photo is of Mount Rushmore in print form. This 20×30 inch poster is available for $5 plus shipping from the South Dakota Tourism office in Pierre. Other photos with the same poster design include Falls Park, Badlands National Park, Lake Oahe, the Needles, and a glacial lake from the northeast region of South Dakota. Call 605-773-3301 to order posters.

Also available for order via the internet are Great Faces, Great Places shirts, hats, coffee mugs and more posters at http://www.cafepress.com/travelsd.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial makes an interesting photo subject any time, but at night it’s especially unique. Spotlights illuminate the sculpted heads for portions of the early evening and at this time of year the Big Dipper appears directly over the carvings.
A tripod and a slow shutter speed allow for proper exposure at night. Balancing the light on the memorial and the lack of light in the sky is somewhat tricky, but modern cameras usually handle the situation fairly well.

The Big Dipper twinkles directly over Mount Rushmore National Memorial during the fall months.

South Dakota is often called the “land of infinte variety.” That’s because as you road trip across South Dakota you’ll find all kinds of scenery, activities and fun, free things to do along the way. Here are some more freebie highlights to make your trip even more unforgettable.

• Sand Lake Wildlife Refuge near Aberdeen – If you love the outdoors and wildlife, this is a great place to stop and enjoy Mother Nature. Operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sand Lake is home to dozens of species of birds, deer and small game animals that you can watch from the viewing tower or along the miles of walking trails. If you visit the refuge during the spring or fall migration, you can see as many as one million snow geese stopping over at the refuge.
• South Dakota Art Museum in Brookings – Located on the campus of South Dakota State University, the South Dakota Art Museum houses permanent collections from local and regional artists like Harvey Dunn, Paul Goble and several Native American artisans. There is also a Kids Sensation Station where families can interact with exhibits.
• State Agricultural Heritage Museum in Brookings – After visiting the South Dakota Art Museum, head over to the State Agricultural Heritage Museum for a trip back in time. The exhibits include a 1915 farm house, an 1882 claim shanty, and a variety of tractors, farm implements and household items.
• Cathedral on the Prairie in Hoven – The town of Hoven is a small, rural farming community in north central South Dakota that is home to one of the biggest and most beautiful churches in the state. Built in the 1920s, St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church was modeled after the great cathedrals of Europe. listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Cathedral on the Prairie has intricate hand-carved woodwork, ornate stained-glass windows and towering spires that can be seen from 15 miles away.
• Historic 1914 Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Depot in Redfield – Originally built to service passenger trains in the area, the C&NW Depot now houses railroad artifacts, model trains and traveling exhibits that showcase the area’s rail history. The depot, used as a storage facility for years, was recently restored by the citizens of the area to its original grandeur.
• The City of Presidents in Rapid City – Have your photo taken with JFK, stand next to Harry Truman or meet the founding fathers with a tour of the City of Presidents in Rapid City. Life-sized bronze statues of many of our nation’s leaders can be found on nearly every downtown street  corner.
• Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the Black Hills – While there is a small fee for parking, Mount Rushmore National Memorial has free admission. Come and discover our nation’s Shrine to Democracy and learn more about this incredible mountain carving that is a symbol of freedom and the American dream.

You can easily find even more South Dakota Freebies along your road trip route by using the Travel Directory on www.TravelSD.com. Don’t forget to stop back and post your favorite freebie. Happy road trippin.