Mount Rushmore National Memorial Changing Hours For Fall

With the days growing shorter, the lighting ceremony at Mount Rushmore National Memorial is now beginning at 8 p.m. Kurt Repanshek photo.

With summer's end not too terribly far off, Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota has changed the hours of its Evening Lighting Ceremony in response to the shortening days.

The lighting ceremony is now beginning at 8 p.m. The Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center, bookstore and museum as well as the Information Center’s closing time has been moved up to 9 p.m.

The Lakota, Nakota and Dakota Heritage Village hours will condense to 9 a.m. through 1 p.m.

Closing time for the Carvers Café and the Memorial Team Ice Cream Shop changes to 8 p.m. on August 16. The Xanterra Gift Shop will close at 9:30 p.m. Opening hours for all operations remain the same.

The last Evening Lighting Ceremony of the season will be September 30, 2012. Remember smoking has been banned throughout the park to promote a safe visiting and working environment under the current dry conditions. For additional information regarding the park operations and seasonal time changes, please visit the park website.