Where can you see the world’s largest collection of wax presidents? At the National Presidential Wax Museum in Keystone, South Dakota!

After we spent an amazing day at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, what better way to follow up than with a trip to see the U.S. Presidents all in one museum. Each president was included, and it was intriguing to see how they were created. There was a movie that explained the intricate details that went into sculpting each figure, and it was a fascinating process to see.

At the museum, there’s a self-guided tour that allows you to go at your own pace. This was great for our family since we enjoyed spending extra time at some of the exhibits. Included with admission is a “tour wand” that gives you an audio tour when you press the button of the exhibit you’re viewing. It was very interesting to listen to the information for each president and our family really enjoyed it.

Who was the mastermind behind the creations? Madame Katherine Stubergh co-founded the museum in 1971. She was known as the “American Madame Tussaud” and is the artist behind most of the wax figures at the National Presidential Wax Museum. I was amazed by the details and how life-like they looked!

After her passing in 1996, her apprentice, Henry Alvarez took over and added to the collection with Presidents Reagan, Clinton, and both George H.W. and George W. Bush.

Most recently, Jethro Crabb has contributed to the museum with the wax sculptures of Joe Biden and Donald Trump.

There were some exhibits in the museum that made us feel like we stepped back in time by the way they were displayed and the clothing they wore. In the photo below on the left, you can see President George Washington and First Lady Martha Washington with the American flag designed by Betsy Ross in the late 1700’s. The photo on the right shows a White House reception during the early 1800’s with Presidents James Madison, James Monroe, their wives, and guests. We loved seeing these displays and it really brought history to life.

It was interesting to learn that General Andrew Jackson (before he became president) made a deal with pirate Jean Lafitte in December, 1814 to defeat the English at New Orleans. (photo left) According to the museum, the photo on the right shows “The five original drafters of the Declaration of Independence during the Summer of 1776.” Included in this photo are: Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston.

President Teddy Roosevelt looked like he was right at home with his trophies on the wall. President Coolidge giving a speech dedicating Mount Rushmore National Memorial while Senator Peter Norbeck, Gutzon Borglum (sculptor and creator of Mount Rushmore), and John Boland look on.

President Grover Cleveland was the first president to get married while serving in the White House. This beautiful exhibit shows the wedding of Grover to Frances Folsom.

This historic exhibit shows President Richard Nixon greeting astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins on their return home from the moon.

The most heartwarming display was seeing President John F. Kennedy at his desk with little John-John playing under the desk. This was my absolute favorite!

This heartbreaking exhibit shows Lyndon B. Johnson being sworn in after the tragic assassination of President John F. Kennedy aboard Air Force One while former First Lady Jackie Kennedy attends.

This was such an educational and really exciting way to learn about the presidents of the United States. To be able to see these figures and the historic moments they lived in was an incredible experience. It was a completely different way to immerse ourselves in the history of America.

We also had fun pretending to be the President of the United States and giving a speech at the podium! Luke had absolutely no desire to be president, so opted to not have his photo taken on the podium. 🤣

If you would like to see our full YouTube vlog, including videos of the presidents, please either click the photo below or the link here: Inside the National Presidential Wax Museum

For more information about the National Presidential Wax Museum, you can check out their website: https://www.presidentialwaxmuseum.com/

We hope you enjoyed traveling along with us!

If you’d like to keep exploring, you can find more family travel adventures here:

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We’ve also shared videos on our YouTube channel to complement this post and bring the experience to life.

Thanks so much for traveling with us, and stay tuned for more adventures with Traveling with the Trapps.

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