CyArk launches virtual tour of Mount Rushmore

CyArk, a nonprofit organization focused on digital documentation of cultural heritage, has introduced a new virtual experience of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the United States. The 15-minute 3D tour — accessible via web, mobile or tablet — offers users an immersive perspective of the monument, highlighting its engineering achievements, artistic significance and the complex cultural narratives associated with the Black Hills region.

The virtual experience allows visitors to virtually ascend to the summit of Mount Rushmore, offering a close-up view of the faces of former presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. From this vantage point, visitors can better understand the intricsye artistry and scale of the carvings, aspects that are not easily observed during an in-person visit. The tour also includes access to the Hall of Records, a chamber situated behind the memorial, and the Sculptor’s Studio, where a 1/12 scale model of the original design — featuring full busts of the presidents — reveals sculptor Gutzon Borglum’s initial vision for the site.

“Mount Rushmore is one of the most recognized memorials in the world, but its story is far more layered than many people realize,” John Ristevski, CEO of CyArk, said in a news release. “We are proud to share this experience in a way that both highlights the engineering and artistry of the site, and acknowledges the deeper histories of the land on which it stands. Our goal is to bring the complexity of this place to light and make it accessible to new audiences.”

Culture and Collaboration

A key element of the project is the inclusion of multiple voices that offer diverse perspectives on the memorial. Along with the historical context provided by museum professionals, the experience features commentary, music, and dance from Indigenous cultural interpreters who share their personal reflections on the significance of the land commonly known as the Black Hills.

The virtual tour is based on a highly detailed 3D digital twin of Mount Rushmore, created using advanced documentation methods such as terrestrial lidar scanning and high-resolution photogrammetry. The model incorporates data from the 2010 Scottish Ten project — a collaboration between the Scottish Government, the Glasgow School of Art and CyArk — as well as imagery from a 2016 CyArk expedition. These datasets were combined to reconstruct the memorial with millimeter-level precision, capturing both the prominent sculptures and lesser-known features like the Hall of Records and the Sculptor’s Studio. CyArk collaborated with local partners, historians and Indigenous cultural interpreters to shape the narrative and included archival photos from the memorial’s construction.