Mount Rushmore Cancels 2010 Fireworks Display
by NPS January 13, 2010
Mount Rushmore National Memorial Acting Superintendent John Scott announced today that the use of fireworks will be suspended for the 2010 Independence Day Celebration due to the unacceptable risk they pose to the fragile condition of the Black Hills forests in and around the memorial resulting from extensive damage from an epidemic of mountain pine beetles. The popular annual event has become the summer's biggest patriotic event at the park.
"Due to the beetle epidemic affecting forests surrounding the park, the wildfire hazard during the 2010 summer tourist season will be high to veryhigh. Therefore, the National Park Service is cooperating with partner land management agencies to explore and implement ways to reduce the risk of wildfires, especially human-caused ones", announced Scott.During the last several years the proliferation of mountain pine beetles has resulted in over 330,000 acres of infected and dead pine forests in the Black Hills. The memorial is home to the second largest contiguous stand of old growth ponderosa pine forest in the Black Hills and beetles have infected scattered populations of old growth trees throughout the park.
John Adams Appears to Rapid City Area Middle Schools
Re-enactor Joe Doyle of Pennsylvania portrayed President John Adams to four Rapid City middle schools October 1 and 2. Sponsored by the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Society (Society), this 
free event engaged area 8th grade students about the life, personality and role President Adams had on the country. On Thursday, October 1, Doyle gave a presentation and entertained questions to South Middle School from 8:45 am-9:45 am and to North Middle School from 1:45 pm-2:45 pm. On Friday, October 2, he did the same at Southwest Middle School from 10 am-11 am and to Dakota Middle School from 2 pm-3pm.
Joe Doyle has been portraying the first vice president and second president since appearing as Adams in a June 2000 production of 1776. Due to intense character and period research, he can speak extemporaneously as Adams on virtually any subject. He has appeared as Adams for official ceremonies for the National Archives, White House Visitors’ Center and the Library of Congress, to name a few. Joe enjoys portraying Adams to remind people of the president’s pivotal role in our nation’s history.
This school outreach also served as a kick-off to the Society’s annual presidential dinner which is a fund raiser to support projects and programs at Mount Rushmore National Memorial. This year, the dinner was themed, An Evening with John Adams, and was held Saturday, October 3 beginning at 5pm at Mount Rushmore’s Carvers Cafe. The evening featured Doyle as President Adams and a gourmet meal consisting of a menu that Adams would of served at the White House. A silent auction, live auction and a gourmet wine raffle will be a part of the evening. Xanterra Parks & Resorts and Canyon Lake Liquors, LTD are sponsors.
Presidential Stuffed Sweet Potatoes from "An Evening with John Adams"
by Ruth Samuelsen
6 medium sweet potatoes or yams, scrubbed and rubbed well with oil. Pierce with fork and bake @ 400 until soft (1 hour). Let cool slightly. Slice 1/2 and scoop out the potato. Mash the potato until smooth.
Blend in:
One 8 1/2 oz can crushed pineapple, drained.
One 6 oz can frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed.
1/4 tsp salt.
1/2 cup chopped walnuts.
Stuff potato shells with the mixture.
Refrigerate, covered several hours or overnight.
Heat oven to 400. Bake uncovered 30 minutes.
Sprinkle with 1 cup miniature marshmallows. Continue baking until melted.
ABA Names Independence Day Celebration one of North America's 100 Best Events for 2010
The American Bus Association (ABA) announced that the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Independence Day Celebration has been designated as one of the Top 100 Events in North America for 2010 by an elite tourism industry selection committee. Inclusion in the Top 100 list, published as a supplement to the September/October issue of Destinations magazine, indicates that this event offers excellent entertainment value to both tour groups and individual travelers from around the world, said ABA.
“The attractiveness of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Independence Day Celebration as a don’t-miss entertainment value is only part of why its selection this year is such a distinction for South Dakota,” said Peter J. Pantuso, CTIS, ABA’s president and CEO. “The real news here is that the Mount Rushmore July 3rd event has been recognized as a potential magnet for tourism dollars, at a time when reenergizing domestic tourism is so important to our spirit and our economy. The honor gives you an important boost in visibility among professional tour planners.”
Each year, Mount Rushmore National Memorial has the privilege of launching the nation into the Independence Day weekend with all-day patriotic and cultural entertainment and a dramatic display of fireworks in the evening. Sponsored by the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Society, this event draws more than 20,000 people to the park and enables millions to view the fireworks display via nationwide broadcasts.
ABA’s 2010 Top 100 Events Selection Committee selected Mount Rushmore from among hundreds of U.S. and Canadian events nominated by state and provincial tourism offices and convention and visitor bureaus. Judges considered the event’s broad appeal, its accessibility to motorcoaches and skill at handling large groups and a variety of other relevant criteria.
Custer State Park’s Buffalo Roundup and Arts Festival was also selected. The complete Top 100 Events list is available online at www.buses.org.
Diana Muses on Mount Rushmore--by Executive Director Diana Saathoff
Mount Rushmore stands tall above the fray of our everyday lives. Much can be learned by taking a cue from these stoic carved figures. They remain constant and steadfast while days come and go. For 78 years the faces have looked out over the horizon, peacefully gazing at the rest of the world. A complex and diverse landscape laid out in huge silent puzzle pieces of vast prairie, twisted granite formations from ancient deposits, lush flora and fauna, all broken occasionally by the noise and movement of man.
For millions of years, the mountain has been the physical and spiritual center of the plains. For the last century, the mountain has taken on another role: the representation of the first 150 years of our country, through a man-made sculpture. The marriage of man and nature is never an easy relationship, but carries powerful lessons.
The skill, determination and vision of the parties involved to complete the sculpture still bring a sense of wonder to all who gaze upon Mount Rushmore. The sculpture represents an interesting exercise in executing a difficult --and in many minds unwise-- undertaking. Creative solutions were needed. Creative tension abounded. Clashes were daily; funding was never enough and was never certain. Individuals came and went. But somehow, the dream lived. The passion remained. New leaders emerged as the project ebbed and flowed. This mountain is a tribute to the powers of endurance and persistence and ultimate commitment.
Controversy has never really left the mountain carving. The mountain evokes strong feelings, even before men dreamed of reshaping the façade. And yet, that controversy remains as a testament to the mountain and the art. Great art stirs people to emotion. Great natural beauty heals the soul and tugs at the heart. Mount Rushmore is both- a natural, spiritual beauty and a wonder of imagination and art.
Who created Mount Rushmore? The spirits or man? I say both. Perhaps the greatest mission of Mount Rushmore lies ahead as a simple reminder to all peoples and generations to come that all dreams are possible with a willing heart and courage.
The Mount Rushmore Society Holds 79th Annual Meeting
(Photo to right shows Society President Gene Lebrun with Michelle Johnson, Outgoing President Al Johnson and Society Executive Director Diana Saathoff)
The Mount Rushmore National Memorial Society celebrated 79 years of supporting Mount Rushmore at its annual meeting held February 13, at the Rushmore Plaza Holiday Inn. Society President Al Johnson opened the meeting with approximately 80 members and guests in attendance.
In 2008, Society contributions totaled $597,323. This makes the Society one of the top contributing organizations in the national park system.
Society contributions in 2008 included the following:
· Donation of a D.A.R.E. Jeep
· Event support for the Independence Day Celebration & Fireworks
· $44,000 in matching funds to support the development of a connector hiking trail from the Mickelson Trail to Mount Rushmore
· Park visitor center staffing
· Promotion of park events and services
· In-kind donations
· Over $147,000 in educational and interpretive funding for the park through the Mount Rushmore History Association
The source of funding for these contributions included revenue from Mount Rushmore History Association bookstore and audio tour sales, sponsorships, parking revenue, in-kind donations and unrestricted contributions.
New officers for 2009 were elected. Gene Lebrun of Lynn Jackson & Lebrun was elected to lead the organization as president. Other officers elected were Vice President Ruth Samuelsen of Rapid City Regional Hospital; Secretary Gary Brown of Rapid City; and Treasurer Leroy Ketel of Ketel Thorstenson, LLP. John Schmit of the Rapid City Regional Hospital Foundation was elected as a new Society board member. He currently serves as chair of the Mount Rushmore History Association.
New Parking Manager Named
Weare pleased to announce that Mason Short has joined the Society as the new parking division manager. He comes to us from a life-long career in aviation, and most recently as the executive director of the Rapid City Regional Airport.
"Mason brings a wealth of talent and an enthusiasm for working with the visitor industry. We are happy to have him on board," Executive Director Director Saathoff says.
He grew up in Appleton, MN, and graduated from Wichita State University with a bachelor of business administration/aviation management. Even though Mason is a licensed commercial pilot, he never pursued piloting as a career. Instead he stayed on the ground, supporting aviation in many different positions, from aircraft fueling to high-end jet charter sales to airport management.
His career in handling facility and contract management, concrete and asphalt maintenance, business development and federal guidelines prepared him well for his new position with the Society in overseeing the parking facility at Mount Rushmore, interacting with the park service and understanding our cooperating agreements.
As director of the Rapid City Regional Airport, Mason became heavily involved with the Black Hills tourism industry, successful helping improve air service the city by attracting two new airlines, among other things.
He brings the passion he has for the Black Hills to Mount Rushmore.
"I cannot think of a better place to help serve our visitors than by helping improve the experience of visiting our world renowned icon," said Mason, "I am excited to put my skills and experience to use for the Society."
Although Mason wasn’t born in South Dakota, his roots run deep here as several of his great-grandparents homesteaded in the state. Mason is married to Jeannie (a Miller, SD, native), and they have three children Kathlynn (10), Alex (7) and Kristoffer (5).