Mount Rushmore National Memorial is centered on a colossal sculpture carved into the granite face of Mount Rushmore (Lakota: Tȟuŋkášila Šákpe, or Six Grandfathers) in the Black Hills near Keystone, South Dakota. Sculptor Gutzon Borglum created the sculpture’s design and oversaw the project’s execution from 1927 to 1941 with the help of his son, Lincoln Borglum. The sculpture features the 60-foot (18 m) heads of Presidents George Washington (1732–1799), Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) and Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865), as recommended by Borglum. The four presidents were chosen to represent the nation’s birth, growth, development and preservation, respectively. The memorial park covers 1,278 acres (2.00 sq mi; 5.17 km2) and the actual mountain has an elevation of 5,725 feet (1,745 m) above sea level.
South Dakota historian Doane Robinson is credited with conceiving the idea of carving the likenesses of noted figures into the mountains of the Black Hills of South Dakota in order to promote tourism in the region. His initial idea was to sculpt the Needles; however, Gutzon Borglum rejected the Needles because of the poor quality of the granite and strong opposition from the Lakota (Sioux), who consider the Black Hills to be sacred ground; it was originally included in the Great Sioux Reservation. The United States broke up the territory after gold was discovered in the Black Hills.
The sculptor and tribal representatives settled on Mount Rushmore, which also has the advantage of facing southeast for maximum sun exposure. Robinson wanted it to feature American West heroes, such as Lewis and Clark, their expedition guide Sacagawea, Oglala Lakota chief Red Cloud, Buffalo Bill Cody, and Oglala Lakota chief Crazy Horse. Borglum believed that the sculpture should have broader appeal and chose the four presidents.
Peter Norbeck, U.S. senator from South Dakota, sponsored the project and secured federal funding. Construction began in 1927; the presidents’ faces were completed between 1934 and 1939. After Gutzon Borglum died in March 1941, his son Lincoln took over as leader of the construction project. Each president was originally to be depicted from head to waist, but lack of funding forced construction to end on October 31, 1941.
Sometimes referred to as the “Shrine of Democracy”, Mount Rushmore attracts more than two million visitors annually. (Wikipedia)
Washington’s nose.Gutzon Borglum’s model of Mt. Rushmore memorial, 1925Gutzon Borglum’s working on an early model of Mt. Rushmore memorialPresident Calvin Coolidge speaks at the dedication of Mount Rushmore National Memorial on Aug. 10, 1927.Blasting begins. 1927Dynamite faces.Blasting begins.Project leader Gutzon Borglum (right) supervises his team of sculptors on what will become George Washington’s forehead.Oct. 10, 1929Project leader Gutzon Borglum examines a scale model in his studio below Mount Rushmore. 19301929Granite vision.Drillers work on Washington’s head on July 29, 1929. Gutzon Borglum, sculptor, directs the carving from a projecting ledge at the left.Gutzon Borglum and another sculptor hang from the forehead of George Washington. 1932High wires.Facial finishingPictured is the head of Washington and Jefferson from the top of Lincoln’s headConstruction of George Washington section of Mt. Rushmore Monument, Alfred Eisenstaedt, 1940Scaffolding around Head of Abraham Lincoln, Partially Sculptured During Mt. Rushmore ConstructionA close view of the face of Thomas Jefferson under construction, with drill marks below it, 1930s.George Washington’s face under construction, 1930s.Carving of Abraham Lincoln at Mount Rushmore, 1934Workers take a break atop the mountain, 1930s.Carving Lincoln’s HeadAmerican sculptor Gutzon Borglum, and his son, Lincoln, inspect the Jefferson head from an aerial tram on Nov. 23, 1935.Sculptors work on Thomas Jefferson’s eye. 1936Sculptors work on Thomas Jefferson’s eye. 1936A stone carver hangs on to Thomas Jefferson’s eyelid. 193619351940A “powder monkey” holds dynamite charges and detonators. 1930A powderman positions dynamite charges used to sculpt Mount Rushmore, c. 1930s.1935Tourists stopped to view Mount Rushmore while it was still under construction, 1930s.1936Construction of Thomas Jefferson section of Mt. Rushmore Monument, 1941.This is an April, 1941 photo of sculptor Lincoln Borglum on the scaffold below the stone face of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt on the Mount Rushmore Memorial in the Black Hills area of Keystone, S.D. Sculptors work on Thomas Jefferson’s eye. 1936A driller uses a jackhammer drill to honeycomb the granite.Winch houses were built on top of Mount Rushmore during the construction. Workers in harnesses attached to steel cables would be raised and lowered by the winches while they worked on the carving.A staged photo of Jefferson’s eye.Gutzon Borglum and his son Lincoln supervise the progress on Thomas Jefferson’s head. Nov. 23, 1935Gutzon Borglum, wearing his usual scarf knotted around his neck, works from a bosun chair, 1930s.The head of Theodore Roosevelt under construction, 1930s. Roosevelt was dedicated in 1939.The head of Abraham LIncoln under construction, 1930s. Lincoln was dedicated on Sept. 17, 1937.19401936A granite “optician” works on Thomas Jefferson’s eye. 1936Borglum works on Abraham Lincoln’s eye. 1937Gutzon Borglum hangs below an eye as his crew works on Abraham Lincoln’s head. 1935President Franklin Roosevelt visits Mount Rushmore to dedicate the sculpture of Thomas Jefferson. Sept. 16, 1936President Franklin Roosevelt visits Mount Rushmore to dedicate the sculpture of Thomas Jefferson. Sept. 16, 1936Stone workers carve the eyes of Theodore Roosevelt with air hammers. 1940The memorial at Mount Rushmore, South Dakota under construction. The four heads are those of Presidents George Washington (1732 – 1799), Thomas Jefferson (1743 – 1826), Theodore Roosevelt (1858 – 1919) and Abraham Lincoln (1809 – 1865). 1941The 50th Anniversary dedication of Theodore Roosevelt on July 2, 1989.Mount Rushmore, as it appears today, with visitors climbing atop the monument.
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