Check Mount Rushmore Off Your Travel Nursing Bucket List

Nestled in the beautiful Black Hills of western South Dakota, a Rapid City travel nurse job gives RNs the opportunity to experience a wealth of sights and attractions between shifts. That includes, of course, one of the top travel nursing bucket list experiences: Mount Rushmore.

MOUNT RUSHMORE NATIONAL MEMORIAL

The state’s most popular attraction, Mount Rushmore showcases the 60-foot faces of four American presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, all carved into the granite face of the mountain. The park that surrounds it hosts a half-mile walking trail, a museum, and two theaters that show a short film called “The Shrine” for an introduction to the memorial.

One of the most impressive views of Mount Rushmore can be found a few minutes away in Custer State Park by traveling north on Iron Mountain Road. The three one-lane tunnels were carved into the granite rocks to showcase the iconic American symbol, making for postcard-perfect photos.

Outside of Mount Rushmore, check out the other great attractions you can access from your Rapid City travel nurse job.

CUSTER STATE PARK

You’ll find lots of other things to do while you’re in Custer State Park, too. During the warmer months of the year, head to Sylvan Lake for a refreshing swim. Incredibly scenic, its image has been splashed across countless Black Hills postcards and brochures, and it was also featured in the movie “National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets.” If you don’t want to get wet, you can enjoy the area’s natural beauty by renting a paddle boat or canoe or hiking the trails that surround the lake.

The park is a paradise for nurses who are wildlife watchers. One of the best ways to spot the animals that live here is to drive the scenic Wildlife Loop Road. Traveling for 18 miles through open grasslands and pine tree-dotted hills, along the way you’re likely to see bison, typically in large numbers, as well as deer, elk, pronghorn, coyotes, prairie dogs, wild burros, and bald eagles.

CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL

Just a short drive from the park and Mount Rushmore, you’ll be able to delve into the area’s rich Native American history and view the largest ongoing mountain carving in the world. Started in 1948, this massive project still isn’t finished, but is already quite impressive, paying tribute to the traditions, culture, and heritage of American Indians, as well as the spirit of legendary Lakota leader Crazy Horse.

JEWEL CAVE NATIONAL MONUMENT

Go underground with a visit to the world’s third-longest cave. Jewel Cave’s more than 170 miles of explored passageways showcase vibrant colors and fragile rocks in an ecosystem that can’t be experienced anywhere else. The stalactites and stalagmites, calcite crystals, draperies, and frostwork are sure to impress.

DEADWOOD

Relive the days of the Wild West in one of the country’s most famous towns that was birthed during the period, spotlighted in the HBO series of the same name, “Deadwood.” It hosts numerous historic attractions, including the magnificent Queen Anne-style Adams House (now a museum), as well as opportunities for gold panning, old-fashioned “shootouts” on Main Street, and casino gambling.

SOUTH DAKOTA TRAVEL NURSING JOBS

If you’re ready to lock down your Rapid City travel nurse job and check the iconic Mount Rushmore off your bucket list, the first step is working with a team that can get you there. Click the button below to view available travel nursing jobs in Rapid City now.