Travel / Educational Travel / National Presidential Wax Museum; South Dakota

We found this place kind of accidentally. We left Mt. Rushmore and drove into Keystone, South Dakota to check out the town. We came across this Museum and decided to check it out.

This place looks small on the outside and there was not many cars in the parking lot. We were not too sure if they were even open. But we gave it a chance and I am so glad we did, I absolutely loved this place.

First I have to say the staff is extremely friendly and goes out of their way to make you feel welcome. I can not praise the staff enough. You just don't find people that seem like they enjoy their job anymore. These people do!

When you first walk in you are given audio remote, As you are walking around the museum you type in the numbers that are listed by the displays. You will hear interesting facts about the president. You go at your own pace, take as long or as short as you want.
This is a wonderful learning opportunity for not only kids, but adults as well.
My son was asking a lot of questions about the different presidents. If I didn't know the answer we would listen to the audio remote together and learn the answer. Great family experience.

Some of the wax presidents were so lifelike. I got the chills when I came upon the one of John F. Kennedy. He looked so real, like I was standing right in front of him. Then another one was of Jackie Kennedy, who still had "blood" on her dress after JFK was shot and she was standing next to Lyndon Johnson being sworn in as President.
They also have a 9/11 memorial. It has the scene of George W. Bush standing with a New York City firefighter in the pile of the World Trade Center. That scene really took you back to that time in history.
My son was only 2 years old on 9/11/01 so he had a lot of questions about that scene. My wife and I were able to sit down with him and explain to him what happened that day and why these two men were standing around all the rubble.

This place was fun yet very educational. My whole family walked away from this place learning something new about the people that have lead our Country so far.

This place is really worth the stop. I recommend it to young and old.