2008 Mount Rushmore
Independence Day Celebration

The 2008 Mount Rushmore Independence Day Celebration is scheduled for July 3-4, 2008.
The fireworks display is scheduled for the night of July 3.

Below, see photos and video from previous years' celebrations.

Note:  all times are Mountain Daylight Time.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

10 a.m. & 1 p.m. Brulé Xanterra Stage at Carver's Cafe 1 & 3 p.m. Hill City Slickers Greenway Stage 1 p.m. Retro Bill D.A.R.E. Safety Buddy Amphitheater 2 p.m. Presidential Reenactors Lincoln and Roosevelt Amphitheater 3 p.m. Rifle Drill Team Ellsworth Air Force Base Honor Guard Amphitheater 3:15 p.m. Retro Bill D.A.R.E. Safety Buddy Amphitheater 4:25 p.m. Vander Hamm Sisters - National Anthem Amphitheater 4:30 p.m. F-16 Flyover South Dakota Air National Guard 4:30 p.m. The Mitguards Amphitheater 6:55 p.m. Patriotic Tribute with Robert Moore Amphitheater 7 p.m. Welcomes by Superintendent Gerard Baker and Mount Rushmore Society President, Al Johnson Amphitheater 7:10 p.m. Flag Folding Ceremony Air Reserve National Guard Amphitheater 7:20 p.m. Flag presentation to honored veteran Amphitheater 7:30 p.m. 43rd Army Band Lincoln, NE Amphitheater 8:45 p.m. Superintendent Baker introduces VIPs Amphitheater 9 p.m. Superintendent Baker introduces Col. Scott A. Vander Hamm Ellsworth Air Force Base, SD Amphitheater 9:05 p.m. Col. Vander Hamm introduces the B-1 Bomber Flyover Ellsworth Air Force Base, SD Amphitheater 9:10 p.m. B-1 Bomber Flyover Ellsworth Air Force Base, SD 9:10 p.m. Patriotic Tribute with Robert Moore Amphitheater 9:15 p.m. FIREWORKS (Weather and fire conditions permitting.) 10 p.m. Hill City Slickers Greenway Stage

Friday, July 4, 2008

5:30 p.m. The Mitguards Amphitheater 7 p.m. 43rd Army Band Lincoln, NE Amphitheater 9 p.m. Mount Rushmore National Memorial Evening Program and Lighting Ceremony Amphitheater

Helpful Hints: Due to heavy traffic, limited parking and security checks expected for the July 3 fireworks extravaganza, plan to carpool and arrive early. Continuous entertainment begins at 10 a.m., July 3. 

Be prepared for changing weather, heat and rain. Bring a flashlight. No personal fireworks, charcoal grills or pets will be allowed at Mount Rushmore National Memorial during the event. Call (605) 574-2523 or visit www.nps.gov/moru for updates.

[  back to top  ]

---

Click here to download a copy of the schedule:

Independence Day Celebration (PDF - 2.8 MB)

---

2006 Mount Rushmore Independence Day Celebration Photos

Below you'll find high-quality images of July 3, 2006, when the "Shrine of Democracy" was showered in the multicolored glow of pyrotechnical artistry.

Click below to see Mount Rushmore lit up.

103 KB or 838 KB	82 KB or 532 KB	91 KB or 661 KB

---

2004 Mount Rushmore Independence Day Celebration Video

Fireworks Finale -- 1 minute, 1.9MB

The 2004 fireworks display video has been converted to RealMedia. If you are having difficulty viewing the clip, make sure you have the latest RealOne player installed.

Note: To view the movies without streaming, right click the link and save the file to your hard drive.

[  back to top  ]

---

For more info on Mount Rushmore please visit the following:

    Mount Rushmore Homepage (TravelSD.com)

    Mount Rushmore National Memorial (National Park Service)