Mt. Rushmore Cave

Beautiful Rushmore Cave

Useful Information

Location:	Near Keystone, about 10 km east of Mount Rushmore State Memorial on State Hwy. 40.
Open:	Jun-Aug 8-20, May, Sep-Oct 9-17.
Fee:	Adult (13+ years) US $7, Child (7-12) US $4, Groups () Adult US $4.50, Child (7-12) US $2.25 (all prices + 5% tax).
Classification:	limeston cave
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:	T=14 °C, 1197 m asl
Guided tours:	D=60 min, L=800 m,
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Beautiful Rushmore Cave, 13622 Hwy. 40, Keystone, SD 57751-6604, Tel. +1-605-255-4384 or +1-605-255-4467. AMail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1876	discovered by placer miners.
1927	opened to the public.

Description

A formation in Mt. Rushmore Cave with a blueish colour caused by copper.

Mt. Rushmore Cave is very famous mainly because of its location. Just a few kilometers from Mt. Rushmore, it participates on the Mt. Rushmore visitors.

Nevertheless it is a nice and very interesting cavern. The geological situation in the Black Hills is unique, as the pahasapa limestone contains various interesting ore vein, caused by the granite of Mt. Rushmore (See the Region South Dakota page for a geological introduction). It is typical, that miners - following the ore veins - discoverd this cave.

The minerals and ores, corroded and oxidized by the water, produce fascinating colorful limestone formations. The strange and rare minerals all around Mt. Rushmore Cave are very interesting.

The most spectacular feature of the cave is, at least according to the owner, the Big Room.