In stock · No. BIGGIE RUN 208
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DESCRIPTION
Capture a piece of American monumental history with this dramatic 1977 chrome postcard featuring Mount Rushmore National Memorial illuminated at night. This striking vintage card showcases the iconic presidential sculptures dramatically lit by the memorial's powerful 150 000-watt lighting system against the deep darkness of the South Dakota night sky.
The impressive illumination highlights every detail of the massive granite sculptures of Washington Jefferson Roosevelt and Lincoln creating a sense of dramatic grandeur that daytime views simply cannot match. The contrasting whites of the illuminated stone against the midnight blue backdrop creates a truly haunting and majestic image of one of America's most recognized landmarks.
This nighttime perspective offers a unique and less commonly seen view of this iconic American monument making it particularly interesting for collectors of national landmark postcards. The silhouetted evergreens visible at the base add scale and perspective to the enormity of the carved mountainside.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Mount Rushmore completed in 1941 under the direction of sculptor Gutzon Borglum stands as one of America's most ambitious monuments to its presidential legacy. The memorial's nighttime illumination system was a significant enhancement to the visitor experience allowing the monument to be appreciated beyond daylight hours.
This 1977 postcard captures the monument during an important period in its history - after the completion of lighting improvements that transformed the evening viewing experience. The impressive 150 000-watt system highlighted on this card represented cutting-edge monument illumination technology for its era.
The card serves as both a tourist souvenir and an important documentation of how Mount Rushmore was presented and marketed to visitors during the late 1970s a period of renewed patriotic interest leading up to America's bicentennial celebrations.
CONDITION
This vintage postcard remains in good condition considering its 45+ years of age though it does show some character-adding signs of time. The front displays visible creases/cracks in the upper left corner and across some areas of the surface that add to its authentic vintage nature.
The back shows moderate age-related yellowing/toning around the edges and minor surface dirt/marks consistent with decades of storage. Despite these condition notes the dramatic nighttime image remains clear and impactful.
Importantly this postcard remains unused with no writing stamps or postal markings preserving its original state as it was sold at the Mount Rushmore gift shop in 1977.
AGE/ERA
This chrome postcard dates precisely from 1977 as clearly stated in the publisher's copyright information on the reverse. This places it firmly in the post-Vietnam pre-digital era of American tourism when domestic travel to national monuments was experiencing a resurgence.
The late 1970s represented a significant period for American patriotic interest following the 1976 Bicentennial celebrations. National monuments like Mount Rushmore saw increased visitation and renewed public interest during this time.
The card's production in 1977 also places it at an interesting moment in postcard history - still before the decline of physical postcards as a primary tourist souvenir but showing the high-quality photographic reproduction that characterized premium tourist postcards of this period.
RARITY
While Mount Rushmore postcards are generally available from various eras
nighttime illuminated views from specific years are considerably less common. This particular 1977 Elite Prints example showing the 150 000-watt lighting system has become increasingly difficult to find in unused condition.
These tangible pieces of American travel history become more precious with each passing decade as fewer examples remain in circulation. The unique Irish printing connection adds a distinctive element that separates this from standard American-printed postcards of the era.
Many similar postcards from this period have been written on damaged or permanently archived in institutional collections making clean examples like this one increasingly scarce on the collector market.
COLLECTOR'S NOTE
There is something profoundly moving about holding an authentic piece of American travel history in your hands. Unlike digital images this postcard is a tangible connection to how this iconic monument was experienced and shared almost half a century ago.
The joy of collecting historical ephemera comes from preserving these small but significant cultural touchpoints that might otherwise disappear forever. Each postcard represents not just an image but a moment in time when someone selected this very card to commemorate their visit to this monumental American landmark.
This postcard would enhance collections focused on American landmarks presidential history South Dakota tourism or night photography of famous monuments. It offers both aesthetic appeal and historical documentation in a single displayable piece.
Buy multiple postcards and pay only ONE low shipping cost! Browse our other listings to build your collection of American landmark postcards while saving on combined shipping.
DON'T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY
Vintage postcards documenting America's iconic monuments are vanishing treasures that cannot be reproduced with the same authenticity. Each one represents a unique moment in how we presented and viewed our national treasures in a pre-digital age.
Unused examples from specific years like this 1977 nighttime view are becoming increasingly difficult to find as time passes. Once sold this particular snapshot of Mount Rushmore's dramatic illumination may not be available again.
Secure this piece of American monument history today before it joins countless others that have disappeared from the market forever. Tomorrow may be too late to own this authentic window into how visitors experienced the majesty of Mount Rushmore in the late 1970s.
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_gsrx_vers_1715 (GS 9.9.2 (1715))
Offered by Gosla Antiques & Collectibles, purveyors of antiquities, curiosities and collectible wares. Dispatched from Pennsylvania, United States, with tracking.
Gosla Antiques & Collectibles