Rushmore Fireworks Big Bang with National Media 

(Pierre) – Millions of viewers across the country experienced a patriotic celebration at America’s Shrine of Democracy during Mount Rushmore National Memorial’s Independence Day Celebration July 3. The Department of Tourism and State Development broadcast the fireworks bursting over the famous faces live via satellite to media across the country. The Mount Rushmore images ran during more than 540 television broadcasts July 3-6, reaching an audience of more than 26.2 million viewers. That’s double the amount of viewers reached by last year’s satellite feed, which was used by television stations in more than 200 broadcasts reaching 13.2 million viewers. 

“Mount Rushmore’s Independence Day Celebration is an incredible event for the memorial, the Black Hills and the state of South Dakota,” said Gov. Mike Rounds. “It’s a tremendous benefit for South Dakota’s visitor industry anytime we can showcase our state to this many people. We are proud to support the event and bring the Shrine of Democracy to millions of people nationwide.”

ABC, CBS, CNN, CNN Headline News, FOX, MSNBC, NBC and PBS were among the national media airing the Mount Rushmore fireworks footage. Affiliate stations in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Honolulu, Houston, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, Nashville, New York City, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, St. Louis, Seattle, Washington D.C and many other American cities also used the images. In all, local affiliates in 35 states used the department’s satellite feed. Many of the news reports labeled the Mount Rushmore fireworks as one of the top 10 displays in the country. 

Downloadable high resolution photos of the Mount Rushmore fireworks were also provided to newspapers across the country through the department’s media Web site www.mediasd.com. 

2003 marked the fifth year the Department of Tourism and State Development broadcast Mount Rushmore’s Independence Day Celebration via satellite.

-30-