Blog: How Mount Rushmore Got Its Name (And What Laura Ingalls Wilder Has to Do With It)
Hey there, fellow explorers! It’s Krystal from Mount Rushmore Tours—and today, I’m diving into one of my favorite bits of South Dakota storytelling. Sure, Mount Rushmore’s towering presidents steal the spotlight, but have you ever stopped to wonder why it’s called “Mount Rushmore” in the first place?
And even more curious… what does Laura Ingalls Wilder, our beloved prairie girl, have to do with it?
Grab your cowboy coffee, and let’s take a journey through time—Black Hills style.
🧭A Lawyer, a Mining Trip, and an Unnamed Mountain
Back in the 1880s, a New York lawyer named Charles E. Rushmore was visiting the Black Hills on business. He was checking out some mining claims near Keystone (yep, right where our modern-day tours begin).
As the story goes, while riding through the rugged terrain, he casually asked a local guide, “What’s the name of that mountain over there?”
The guide shrugged and said, “It doesn’t have a name yet. But from now on, we’ll call it Rushmore.”
And just like that, a legend was born.
⛰️ When Did It Actually Become Mount Rushmore?
Though the nickname caught on locally, it wasn’t until 1930—more than 40 years later—that the name Mount Rushmore became official.
By then, the carving of the presidential monument was already underway. And the name “Rushmore” just stuck. It sounded bold, authoritative, and as American as the granite itself.
👒 Enter Laura Ingalls Wilder: The Pioneer Backdrop
Now you might be wondering—what does Laura Ingalls Wilder have to do with any of this?
While Laura never carved mountains, her life was unfolding right alongside these events. She and her family moved to De Smet, South Dakota, in the late 1870s—just before Charles Rushmore showed up in the Black Hills.
Her stories captured the grit, hardship, and hope of the pioneer families who settled here. And even though she wasn’t in the Hills themselves, her books painted a vivid picture of the time period—one of rapid expansion, gold rushes, new towns, and westward dreams.
In fact, the very people who welcomed Rushmore—miners, ranchers, and homesteaders—were the real-life neighbors of the Ingalls family.
🌄 Why This Little Story Matters Today
Knowing how Mount Rushmore got its name isn’t just a fun fact to share at dinner—it’s a reminder of how the everyday people of history shape the legacy of a place.
Laura chronicled the pioneer spirit. Rushmore was just a guy asking questions. And someone in South Dakota had the good sense to say, “You know what? That mountain should have a name.”
🎟️ Ready to Stand Where History Happened?
When you hop on one of our sightseeing tours, you don’t just “see” Mount Rushmore. You get to feel the story behind it—the gold rush, the carving, the people, and yes… even the unexpected connections to frontier families like the Ingalls.
✨ Want more stories like this on your trip?
Book your Mount Rushmore Tour today and experience South Dakota through the eyes of history, nature, and just the right touch of wonder.
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