What To Know About Mount Rushmore's July 3 Fireworks Event

This July will be cause for celebration across the United States, as we celebrate our nation's 250th birthday.

But in South Dakota, a number of people are in for a huge disappointment.

Demand for the July 3rd fireworks celebration at Mount Rushmore National Memorial has been massive, with 102,991 tickets requested for the official Freedom 250 event.

Sadly, most of those people will be watching the festivities on TV, because only around 4,800 tickets are actually being issued for the event.

Word went out to the lucky ticket recipients this week after they were randomly selected in a lottery, which ended Sunday (April 12th).

According to Governor Larry Rhoden's office, event organizers are finalizing an evening program designed to deliver a 'memorable and meaningful celebration' at Mount Rushmore. The night will culminate in a fireworks and light show set to a patriotic soundtrack, honoring the legacy of the monument and the enduring spirit of the United States.

A crew of 30 pyrotechnicians and specially trained highline operators will install fireworks and lighting at designated locations at the Memorial. The State of South Dakota has contracted with Pyro Spectaculars, the same vendor that successfully produced the 2020 Mount Rushmore fireworks display. In addition to pyrotechnics, the 2026 contract includes lighting elements that can be utilized if environmental conditions require an alternative to fireworks.

The National Park Service has conducted an environmental assessment for the event, which is available on the NPS website. Protection of the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore National Memorial remains central to planning efforts for the July 3rd celebration.

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Mount Rushmore's Secret Chamber

Many of us have had the pleasure of visiting South Dakota's most famous monument, Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills.

But, did you know there's a secret chamber in Mount Rushmore?

Gallery Credit: Andy Gott

What Was It like to Vacation in South Dakota’s Black Hills 60 Years Ago?

This time of year our thoughts often turn to planning that perfect getaway to enjoy the warmer weather and extended daylight.

For a lot of us in South Dakota, that means a trek to the Black Hills and all of the things they have to offer.

But vacationing in western South Dakota is hardly a new concept. People from all over the globe have been coming to the area for decades.

Gallery Credit: Jeff Harkness/B1027.com

What Did South Dakota's License Plate Look Like the Year You Were Born?

The first number on a South Dakota license plate is the county that the car is registered. For example, Pennington county where Rapid City is has a '2' starting its plates. In Sioux Falls you have either a '1' or a '44' depending on your relationship to 57th street.

When established in 1956 (and revised in 1987) the first nine counties were ordered by population. Starting with 10 they are in alphabetical order through Ziebach, with Oglala Lakota County (65) and Todd (67) rounding out the list.

Today the top 10 plate numbers and populations don't correlate anymore. 1 and 2 are still 1 and 2, but Lincoln (44) is now 3rd in population. Beadle is 4 but it's now 11th in population. See the list by population here.

On January 1, 2023, South Dakota started issuing a new license plate design for license plates.

So, let's take a look back at what South Dakota license plates looked like over the last 100 years.

Gallery Credit: Ben Kuhns