The fireworks South Dakota shot off at Mount Rushmore on July 3 to cap Donald Trump’s inappropriately divisive and gaslightfully projective semiquincentennial speech cost $700,000. But the Department of Tourism says total planning for that rainy event cost four times that, more than the money the event generated for the state economy:
The state spent $2.8 million to plan and produce the July 3 celebration, which generated $2.35 million of economic impact, the department said in a Monday press release. The department attributed the economic analysis to the research firm Tourism Economics [Meghan O’Brien, “State’s Expenses for Rushmore Fireworks Were Greater Than Economic Impact, Tourism Department Says,” South Dakota Searchlight, 2026.08.10].
But its the intangibles that make this money-losing event an investment, insists the ever effervescing Secretary of Tourism Jim Hagen:
The State of South Dakota invested $2.8 million in planning and producing the Freedom 250 at Mount Rushmore celebration. This generated a return on investment that has already paid tremendous dividends and will continue to do so for years to come, thanks to the billions of earned media impressions. The costs include the pyrotechnics and lighting, media production, shuttle bus contracts, and cost recovery payments to the National Park Service.
“This event generated an estimated $2.35 million in direct economic impact while delivering more than 53 billion media impressions globally, introducing South Dakota to new and familiar audiences,” Hagen said. “It’s an investment that strengthened our tourism economy while reinforcing South Dakota’s place as one of America’s most iconic destinations” [emphasis in original; South Dakota Department of Tourism, press release, 2026.08.10].
Tourism SD counts $1.5 million in actual spending from the 4,000-some visitors who won the ticket lottery and were allowed at Mount Rushmore to hear Republicans squawk. Tourism SD says 87.7% of those lucky ticket winners came from far enough away that they probably bought a motel room or campsite or other lodging.
Hmmm… maybe if instead of staging an exclusive anti-Commie Trump rally we had kept the Great Faces and fireworks open to all Americans and our intrepid international visitors, we’d have sold even more motel rooms and umbrellas and all that and actually turned a Hills-wide profit on our investment.
The female military singer was great! She should get a bonus!