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1 Photo by Chad Coppess Fall/Winter 2016 The Star-Spangled Banner Mount Rushmore National Memorial The Mount Rushmore Society through the Mount Rushmore Bookstores, the Mount Rushmore Audio Tour, Mount Rushmore Memories, the Mount Rushmore Institute and other activities is dedicated to the preservation, promotion and enhancement of Mount Rushmore National Memorial and the values it represents through a partnership with the National Park Service. Society and Presidential Parking Celebrate 20-Year Impact Serving Visitors By Diana Nielsen Saathoff, Executive Director Over twenty years ago, then Mount Rushmore National Memorial Superintendent Dan Wenk presented the Mount Rushmore Society (Society) board of directors with a challenge. The group had already raised $25 million for the upgrade of the facilities at Mount Rushmore, but a larger parking facility at Mount Rushmore was needed and the National Park Service needed help. With great courage and vision, the Society board agreed to take out a $17 million loan to finance, construct and operate the parking garage, which increased parking spaces at Mount Rushmore from 500 to The agreement was made under a 20-year concession contract with the National Park Service (NPS) which ended October 15, The Society officially paid off the loan and turned over the privately funded, debt-free facility to the NPS in October. Under the care of Bob and Sheila Mudlin of Presidential Parking, Inc., the Society employed hundreds of front-line employees who were the first to greet visitors to Mount Rushmore from all over the world. Approximately three million people visit Mount Rushmore each year. During the entirety of our contract, it was our goal that visitors were personally greeted upon arrival and that they were soon out of their vehicles, enjoying all that Mount Rushmore has to offer, explains Society Executive Director Diana Saathoff. The trip of a lifetime Presidential Parking President Bob Mudlin. From the President 2 Friend-Raising 3, 7 75th Anniversary 4-5 Year-End Giving 6 Retail News 8-9 continued on p. 9

2 Who We Are: Mount Rushmore Society President: Judy Allen Executive Director: Diana Nielsen Saathoff Finance Director: Lynn Bauter Parking Division Manager: Bob Dominicak Mount Rushmore Society President Judy Allen (middle) accepts the Governor s Award for History on behalf of the Society. She is pictured with South Dakota Dept. of Education Secretary Melody Schopp and South Dakota Historical Society Director Jay D. Vogt. photo courtesy Jeff Mammenga, South Dakota Historical Society Society Wins Prestigious Governor s Award for History By Judy Allen, President The South Dakota State Historical Society presented the Mount Rushmore Society with a Governor s Award for History on Saturday, April 30, during its annual history conference in Pierre. Shebby Lee of Rapid City, Amber Nash of Waubay, Chuck Vollan of Brookings and the Verendrye Museum s Bring it Home Committee of Fort Pierre also received the award. The Society was recognized for our consistent efforts in preserving state history as it pertains to Mount Rushmore. During the ceremony State Historical Society Director Jay D. Vogt expressed the importance of this award. We are pleased to give out these awards, explained Vogt. These are just a few of the shining examples of how people across the state and beyond are helping us in our efforts to promote, nurture and sustain South Dakota history. The Society was established in 1930 and was integral in raising and managing the funds to carve Mount Rushmore, which continues to preserve the ideals of four American presidents. The organization raised millions of dollars to improve the facilities at Mount Rushmore in the 1990s and has given more than $300,000 to the National Park Service specifically for sculpture preservation in the last three years. For the last 20 years, the organization has developed national award-winning publications and the Mount Rushmore Audio Tour to educate visitors on the history of the carving, process of the carving and why the particular presidents were chosen. Find out more about ways the Society has supported Mount Rushmore this year by planning to attend our upcoming annual meeting on January 13, Communications Director: Debbie Ketel Speas Development Director: Gary Keller Administrative Assistant: Patty Neumiller Special Projects Coordinator: Cindy Mayes Accountant: Sam Rogers Mount Rushmore Bookstores Retail Manager: Laura Jones Mount Rushmore Memories Airport Store Retail Manager: Anna Raue Mount Rushmore Society PO Box 1524 Rapid City, SD North Creek Dr Rapid City, SD (605) Fax: (605) info@mtrushmore.org Mount Rushmore Bookstores and Mount Rushmore Audio Tour Office: Mount Rushmore National Memorial Hwy 244 Keystone, SD / bookstores@mtrushmore.org Mount Rushmore Memories Airport Store Rapid City Regional Airport 4550 Terminal Rd Rapid City, SD anna@mtrushmore.org Save the Date: January 13, 2017 for the Mount Rushmore Society s Annual Meeting Details Coming Soon! 2

3 Mount Rushmore Society Hosts President George Washington By Michelle Lintz, Membership & Marketing Chair The Society s annual presidential dinner was held on October 1 as a celebration of the 75th anniversary of the completion of Mount Rushmore in We had a sold-out crowd and raised thousands towards the restoration of the Sculptor s Studio. The evening featured Washington re-enactor Carl Closs, who performs at Mount Rushmore regularly. On September 30, Washington also had the opportunity to speak at Westhills Village Retirement Community and St. Thomas More Middle School regarding Washington s perspective on the Declaration of Independence and what makes a successful leader. He was interviewed by several news outlets about President Washington s successes and personality. This year, attendees participated in a chance drawing of various items, including collectible National Park Service commemorative coins embedded in Mount Rushmore granite and packages from local businesses. Live auction items included a gourmet wine dinner from Eric Gardner, a trip to Zion National Park on behalf of Xanterra Parks & Resorts and Monumental Pride by MotorMarc Art. The event could not have happened without the partnership and generosity of Xanterra Parks & Resorts, as they prepare the fabulous meal, sponsor the social hour and always donate a silent and/or live auction for the event. Thank you! Special thanks also goes out to all our sponsors listed on this page who partnered with us on this great event to support Mount Rushmore and educate the community about this national park. President George Washington speaks to St. Thomas More students about the Declaration of Independence. Thank you to MotorMarc Art for creating this unique piece of iron art in commemoration of the 75th anniversary. The online, final bid was a significant gift to the Society. Thank You Presidential Sponsors Dakota West Books Friends Sponsors Judy & Bill Duhamel In-Kind Sponsors Investing in What Counts Rangel A professional building company construction Company LLc Eric Gardner Darrell Riddle Custer State Park Resort Co. Presidential Parking Inc. Peregrine Pointe B&B Dakotah Steakhouse Liv Hospitality MotorMarc Art RAC Recreational Adventures Co. 3

4 Festival Mount Rushmore Society Celebrates the Anniversary Year By Ruth Samuelsen, 75th Anniversary Committee Chair It has been a phenomenal year celebrating the 75th anniversary of the completion of Mount Rushmore and the Centennial of the National Park Service. Not only have we completed a public relations campaign that has garnered more than 3 million impressions through the partnership with South Dakota Tourism Department and other marketing associations and businesses across the state, we have organized various events to educate the public and visitors about this momentous anniversary. Since our last newsletter, The Journey to Mount Rushmore exhibit opened at The Journey Museum which more than 10,000 people visited. More than 200 people became citizens of the United States at a Naturalization Ceremony in June in which the 75th anniversary was spotlighted. The Mount Rushmore Society is always a sponsor of this patriotic event. On August 25, we offered free parking at Mount Rushmore in honor of the 100th birthday to the NPS, a gift equivalent of $30,000 to the park. We organized the first-ever Find your Park Festival in Main Street Square, Rapid City in which land management agencies, city parks and other outdoorrelated organizations participated. Approximately 1,000 people attended the event which included 23 booths, providing information, giveaways and activities. The day also included entertainer Phil Baker and visits by the Mount Rushmore Mascots and Smokey Bear. We were honored to have National Park Service Centennial Coordinator Alexa Viets attend this event and inform the public about the success of the Find Your Park campaign. Sponsored by the Society, more than 1,000 people attended Mount Rushmore performed by the Black Hills Symphony, Dakota Choral Union and Black Hills State University Concert Choir with spectacular video of western South Dakota by South Dakota Public Broadcasting. Approximately 1,000 people attended the Find Your Park Festival on August 20 which incorporated 23 booths by regional National Park Service, Forest Service, city park representatives as well as other outdoorrelated organizations. The Journey to Mount Rushmore exhibit at The Journey Museum. Ruth Samuelsen led a committee to plan the Mount Rushmore Symphony performed on October 22 by the Black Hills Symphony Orchestra, Dakota Choral Union and Black Hills State University Concert Choir. Committee members consisted of Judy Allen, Terry Whiting, Pat Lebrun, Judy Olson Duhamel, Toni Logar, Kay Jorgensen, Larry Rohrer, Bruce Knowles and Ken Ketel. As the last hooray, we plan to decorate the Capitol Rotunda tree for the 2016 Christmas at the Capitol event in Pierre. See p. 5. 4

5 Black Hills Recogn ition South Dakota s Black Hills and Badlands Tourism Association presented the 2016 Special Achievement Award to the Mount Rushmore Society on October 26. This award was given in appreciation for the Society s efforts in providing awareness of the 75th anniversary of the completion of Mount Rushmore and taking the lead in promoting this important anniversary. We are honored to be recognized by the entire Black Hills tourism industry for doing what we do best... fulfilling our mission of promoting Mount Rushmore, says Executive Director Diana Saathoff. Thank you for this incredible recognition. BHBL Chair Mistie Caldwell and CEO Michelle Thomson present Society staff and board with the 2016 Special Achievement Award. You re Invited to our Christmas a t the Capitol Reception Tuesday, November 22 4 pm - 6:30 pm Red Rossa Italian Grill 808 W. Sioux Avenue Pierre, SD Prior to the Christmas at the Capitol Grand Lighting Ceremony Entertainment by the Jim Szana Trio. Following the reception, travel to the Christmas at the Capitol Grand Lighting Ceremony, which begins approximately at 7 pm with Governor Dennis Daugaard. The Mount Rushmore Society was selected to decorate this year s 30-foot centerpiece tree in the Rotunda as a final event to the 75th anniversary of the completion of Mount Rushmore. We invite you to help us celebrate this landmark celebration. Admission is free for both events. RSVP required for the reception by ing Patty Neumiller at pneumiller@mtrushmore.org or call South Dakota Arts Council support is provided with funds from the State of South Dakota, through the Department of Tourism,and the National Endowment for the Arts. Photo by Chad Coppess 5

6 Dear Mount Rushmore Friend: As we tie a bow on the 75th anniversary year, the Mount Rushmore Society thanks you for your support. We believe we were successful in encouraging visitors worldwide to Visit Join and Give. We hope that as you read all that was accomplished in 2016, you include the Society in your year-end charitable giving. But first, what did we do with your generosity and support in 2016? 2016 ACCOMPLISHMENTS In a gesture of wonderful support and philanthropy, a single donor came forward with a $200,000 gift to complete the rehabilitation of the Blackberry Trail. Our Bookstores once again provided more than $241,000 in ongoing support for seasonal rangers and education programs. The Betty Nelson Estate allowed us to present the third $100,000 preservation gift to the National Park Service to ensure the structural integrity of the granite mountain carving. We began fundraising for the renovation of the two remaining historic structures at Mount Rushmore; the Sculptor s Studio and Residence II. The annual Presidential Dinner proceeds from October 1 have been dedicated to that effort. We completed our commitment made 20 years ago to finance, fund and donate the parking facility to the National Park Service free of debt on October 14, The moment was bittersweet as we bade farewell to our loyal and hard-working staff at Presidential Parking, Inc. who dedicated themselves to the best customer service as the front-line hospitality providers for nearly three million visitors each year. LOOKING FORWARD What s next? It s a new era for the Society. Call it Chapter Three of our evolving story. To recap, in Chapter One, we helped raise funds to begin work on the sculpture. Chapter Two was the $56 million fundraising campaign which upgraded the facilities visitors enjoy today. And we are ramping up a renovation campaign to ensure that the two structures also are preserved for future generations. The Society is now charting the next 75 years and once again putting a needed emphasis on addressing the needs of aging structures and providing funding for programs and interpretive needs at the park. We dedicate ourselves to a renewed effort in fundraising from dimes to dollars, to continue our commitment to millions of visitors who expect and deserve a world-class Mount Rushmore visitor experience. PLEASE HELP TODAY. Please consider a taxdeductible year-end gift that is meaningful and significant to you. For our part, we guarantee to dedicate ourselves each and every day to effectively steward your gift and continue writing the ongoing story of Mount Rushmore. Happy holidays and best wishes for the coming New Year! The Moun t Rushmore Society Boa rd of Directors and Staff YES I would like to make an unrestricted gift of: $100 $500 $1,000 $2,500 $5,000 Other Check enclosed Mail invoice Credit Card Business Name Phone Address Carving of Mount rushmore IN THEIR OWN WORDS Make it easy. Donate online at Mount Rushmore Society PO Box 1524 Rapid City, SD gary@mtrushmore.org Contact Name We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Donations are subject to appropriate tax deductions, ask your accountant for details. Please keep a copy of this form for your files yrend ltr Charge my Credit Card (Circle One) MasterCard Visa Discover AmerExp Acct# Expiration Signature For your donation of $500 or more, you will receive a copy of In Their Own Words, our latest publication featuring articles written by Mount Rushmore s earliest visionaries. MOUNT RUSHMORE BOOKSTORES

7 Mount Rushmore Society Picnic Held By Michelle Lintz, Membership & Marketing Chair Mount Rushmore Society members, potential members, National Park Service representatives and Society staff gathered for the annual picnic held at the park on August 22. The event included a scrumptious meal by Xanterra Parks & Resorts, networking and a presentation by former Society president Carolyn Mollers. Mollers has a long legacy with the Society. She is past Society president and past chair of the Mount Rushmore Bookstores committee. She also led the Preservation Fund that raised millions of dollars for the park s redevelopment in the 1990s. She walked through the process of planning and ultimately hosting the 50th anniversary of the Former Society President Carolyn Mollers spoke to attendees at the Mount Rushmore Society picnic held in August. completion of Mount Rushmore in 1991 in which President George H.W. Bush attended as well as other notable celebrities like Jimmy Stewart and Mary Hart. Carolyn still exudes the passion that all the volunteer committee members and board felt at that time to fund raise, to develop products and to promote an anniversary 25 years ago. Board Retreat Robert Bull of Compass Group (pictured far right) met with Society staff, Society board members and National Park Service staff September in Custer State Park to discuss strategic goals for the upcoming year. To get into the South Dakota spirit, Robert donned a cowboy hat during a wagon ride with Society Executive Director Diana Saathoff, Retail Manager Anna Raue, Development Director Gary Keller and the rest of the team. Society Raises $200,000 for Blackberry Trail By Gary Keller, Development Director Last spring, the Mount Rushmore Society gifted $200,000 to Mount Rushmore National Memorial to complete rehabilitation of the Blackberry Trail. The trail is south of the carving of Mount Rushmore within park boundaries. Over the years, the trail has fallen into disrepair and has become hazardous to both riders and horses due to extreme erosion. The rehabilitation will once again offer a safe, sustainable trail that will allow equestrian traffic and day-use hikers many interesting views from a wilderness perspective. The project is going well, and it is expected to be completed by the end of December. In partnership with the National Park Service, we participated in the Vote Your Park Preservation Campaign from May to June. Through a social media campaign and a Vote Your Park event, we encouraged supporters to vote for Mount Rushmore s Borglum View Terrace rehabilitation project. We came in ninth place (out of 20 parks). Although we didn t win, we gained nationwide awareness of preservation needs at Mount Rushmore. 7

8 COOKS IN PARKS A COLLECTION OF RECIPES BY THOSE WHO LOVE, ENJOY AND SUPPORT OUR NATIONAL AND STATE PARKS IN SOUTH DAKOTA, WYOMING AND BEYOND Four Famous Faces A Stories in Stone Publication Badlands Natural History Association, Black Hills Parks & Forests Association Devils Tower Natural History Association, Mount Rushmore Bookstores Consider Holiday Gifts from Our Rushmore Stores By Laura Jones, Retail Manager It s hard to imagine, but the holidays are just around the corner. In preparation, consider purchasing original publications and products developed through the Mount Rushmore Bookstores. The items pictured above are all available on our website. Cooks in Parks ($14.99) is a collection of 90+ recipes by those who love and support our state and national parks. Information about regional national parks and Custer State Park is included. Four Famous Faces ($16.99) is a children s book written by Jean L.S. Patrick and illustrated by Renee Graef. The book follows the journey of Prairie Dog and the friends he finds along the way in his search for the four famous faces. Children learn about the parks and wildlife in our region. In Their Own Words ($14.99) is a compilation of articles written by some of the early supporters of Mount Rushmore. Their original writings appeared in publications published by the Mount Rushmore Society from the 1930s to the 1960s to explain how and why Mount Rushmore was carved, as well as to promote the Black Hills and membership in the organization. The articles reflect the opinions and passions of each writer, providing a unique historical account of the carving that was finished 75 years ago. BY JEAN L. S. PATRICK ILLUSTRATED BY RENÉE GRAEF Mount Rushmore ($16.99) tells the fascinating story of the origin and development of Mount Rushmore National Memorial. This is the official historical record of the carving. Thank you for supporting the Mount Rushmore Bookstores and our online store! Due to your purchases, we were able to donate more than $241,600 back to Mount Rushmore in FY2016, and we sponsored six seasonal interpretive rangers this summer for $4,000 each. Seasonal rangers are vital in serving visitors needs. They staff the Information Center and the Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center as well as give daily programs, assist Junior Rangers and give the Evening Lighting Ceremony program, among other duties. Purchase Your Vintage Christmas Cards What makes this collection of Christmas cards special? When the concept for Mount Rushmore was first conceived, supporters recognized that the monumental vision would require adequate funding. President Calvin Coolidge first committed government funding for the project on a matching basis in Soon after, the people of South Dakota got busy. Selling boxes of greeting cards, which incorporated 17 of sculptor Gutzon Borglum s original sketches, was just one of many fund raisers. The box of greeting cards sold for $1 and included a membership in the Mount Harney Memorial Association, which was the precursor to the Mount Rushmore Society. Order at or call In honor of the original supporters of America s Shrine of Democracy, the Mount Rushmore Society has reproduced 17 of these rare, vintage sketches by Gutzon Borglum of the mountain memorial and the beautiful Black Hills. NOW JUST $17.99! 8

9 continued from p. 1 starts at the front gate. The Mudlin s and their staff have hosted many special events that highlight the Black Hills as a tourist destination, including the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, Sturgis Mayor s Ride, Corvette Rally, Golden Knights Even a John Deere tractor and the Mount can visit Mount Rushmore! Rushmore Independence Day Celebration & Fireworks, among many others. I m proud of all of our local employees who have gone the extra mile to display extraordinary South Dakota hospitality to Mount Rushmore s visitors, adds Mudlin. We thank the Mount Rushmore Society for giving us the opportunity to be a part of this American treasure. In addition, the Society has also worked hard to maintain the facility for the future use of visitors. The Society has taken the operation of the parking concession very seriously, providing a safe and clean facility for the last two decades, News From the Mount Rushmore Memories Airport Store By Anna Raue, Retail Manager This year has been a fun and profitable one at the Mount Rushmore Memories Airport Store. We joined in celebrating the 75th anniversary of Mount Rushmore by selling souvenirs and bottled water with the 75th Logo. I am thankful for my outstanding sales staff (Heather, Holly, Matea, Juana, Kyra and Amelia) who go above and beyond in helping our customers to says Society Parking Manager Bob Dominicak. Dominicak should know. He has overseen the operation of the parking concession since Prior to that, he served on the Society board. As someone who has been closely involved with the parking operation, he has a Above is just a sample of the smiling faces that Bob & Sheila Mudlin have employed over the years. sense of personal fulfillment and responsibility. Working side by side with PPI, I enjoyed being able to provide the visitor with a safe, convenient and clean place to park their vehicle, says Dominicak. have a warm and welcome experience as we are usually their last stop when leaving the hills. We also welcome Gary Misterek, who is in charge of receiving merchandise for the store, like the unique Native American pottery and jewelry pictured here. I also enjoyed hearing visitor comments about the awesomeness of the Memorial as I was working there. In addition to maintaining the facility and providing customer service to millions of visitors, the Society has been able to use revenue generated by parking fees to promote Mount Rushmore and support special events at the park over the years. The Society congratulates Xanterra Parks & Resorts in their new endeavor of operating the parking facility in the future. Bob Dominicak has been a part of the Mount Rushmore Society team for more than six years. Welcome Sam Rogers Sam Rogers has joined the Mount Rushmore Society as an accountant. She served in the U.S. Army for six years before moving to Rapid City. Sam worked for the Rapid City Cancer Care Institute and most recently served as an accountant for the Firehouse Brewing Co. She and her husband, Jory, have a daughter and a son. 9

10 Mount Rushmore Society Mount Rushmore Bookstores Mount Rushmore Institute Mount Rushmore Memories PO Box 1524 Rapid City, SD Address Service Requested NONPROFIT US POSTAGE PAID Rapid City, SD Permit No. 618 Commemorative Christmas Ornaments Purchase the 75th anniversary ornament collection of 5 for $75! Includes 2012 George Washington, 2013 Thomas Jefferson, 2014 Theodore Roosevelt, 2015 Abraham Lincoln and a special 75th ornament for Call the Society office at to order. Not available online.