Everyone knows everything there is to know about our world-famous Mount Rushmore National Monument and who built it, who is on it, and why it was built, but did you know that this iconic landmark is also home to a secret tunnel? Whether you did or did not, read on as we check out this super secret spot that was recently called one of the greatest places in America, the Mount Rushmore secret tunnel.

As you probably already know, Mount Rushmore was built between 1927 and 1941 by father and son team Gutzon and Lincoln Borglum, but what you may not realize is that there is more to this landmark than just its 4 pretty faces.
Wikimedia Commons/Winkelvi
Case in point: A secret chamber located right behind President Lincoln's head!
YouTube/MountRushmoreNPS
Featuring a 35-foot-tall, 75-foot-long chamber, the tunnel was built by Borglum as a tribute to the monument, and as a place to store such important documents as the Declaration of Independence and stories of the area.
YouTube/MountRushmoreNPS

Related Stories

The Magnificent Black Hills Airbnb In South Dakota That Is Perfect For A Spring Retreat

The Magnificent Black Hills Airbnb In South Dakota That Is Perfect For A Spring Retreat

 Best Waterfalls In South Dakota: 12 Local Favorites & Hidden Gems

Best Waterfalls In South Dakota: 12 Local Favorites & Hidden Gems

 You'll Never Look At Donuts The Same Way After Trying Flyboy Donuts In South Dakota

You'll Never Look At Donuts The Same Way After Trying Flyboy Donuts In South Dakota
Sadly, Gutzon Borglum's plans never came to fruition (mostly due to a lack of funding from Congress) and today the tunnel remains empty, minus an intricate vault and marker engraved with a quote from Borglum.
YouTube/MountRushmoreNPS
Interestingly enough, the last public visitors known to even visit the tunnel were Borglum's descendants in 1998.
Why are we shedding light on the tunnel? Fox News' Brian Kilmeade recently cited his picks for the greatest places in America and named the Mount Rushmore chamber as his number one choice.
Flickr/Leon Reed
As per Kilmeade, "Today many people are questioning America’s greatness. Viewing the Mount Rushmore National Memorial — known as the Shrine of Democracy — will reaffirm what many of us believe: that America is an exceptional nation with exceptional people who strive and achieve great things. And one of those great things is the incredible carving of Mount Rushmore."
Flickr/Andrea Church
The Mount Rushmore National Monument is located at 13000 SD-244 in Keystone.
Flickr/CameliaTWU

Learn more about the history of this secret tunnel:

Did you know about the Mount Rushmore secret tunnel? If you haven’t been, it’s definitely worth a road trip. Discover even more about Mount Rushmore’s history by checking out these photos of Mount Rushmore’s construction.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

More to Explore

Intriguing Locations in South Dakota

Will Suphan | October 26, 2023

What are the strangest places in South Dakota?

The strangest places in South Dakota include:

  • Stratobowl. This is a treeless spot in the middle of a forest that has become the launching pad for an annual hot-air balloon festival.
  • Porter Sculpture Park. Come to this park to see sculptures of bull's heads, dragons, and much more.
  • 1800 Homestead Cabin in Badlands. This is an extremely old cabin with no electricity or running water if you really want to rough it.
  • Cosmos Mystery Area. This attraction has a tour that seems to defy physics with water running uphill and various other illusions.

Discover more about the strangest places in South Dakota. 

What are some unique attractions in South Dakota?

Unique attractions in South Dakota include:

  • Geographic Center of the Nation Monument in Belle Fourche. When you come to this monument, you’ll be standing in the geographic center of America.
  • Mount Rushmore National Monument. This massive sculpture of four U.S. Presidents is the only one of its kind.
  • The Mammoth Site in Hot Springs. This is an ongoing paleontological dig with more mammoth fossils than anyplace else.
  • Mount Moriah Cemetery. Walk among the final resting places of various legends of the Old West with a ton of history.

Find out more about unique attractions in South Dakota.

What are some bucket list attractions in South Dakota?

Bucket list attractions in South Dakota include:

  • 1880 Train. This is an old train that you can ride on which takes you through the most scenic parts of the Black Hills.
  • Reptile Gardens in Rapid City. This is a reptile zoo with lizards, snakes, tortoises, crocodiles, amphibians, and more.
  • Ingalls Homestead in De Smet. This was the setting for part of the Little House on the Prairie books that is a must-see.
  • Winner Drive-In. See movies the old-fashioned way at this outdoor drive-in movie theater and get a touch of nostalgia.

Learn more about bucket list attractions in South Dakota. 

Related Articles

Featured Addresses
13000 SD-244, Keystone, SD 57751, USA