SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Gov. Dennis Daugaard is offering state resources to keep Mount Rushmore National Memorial open during a federal government shutdown.
He says in a letter to the National Park Service director that the "national treasure" should remain open to the public.
The Park Service says it will close the memorial and have a skeleton crew for security and maintenance.
Daugaard provided the Park Service with possible options to keep the memorial and some of the visitor concessions operating. He said he would raise private money to operate spotlights that illuminate the faces at night.
The memorial in the Black Hills drew 3 million visitors in 2010.
