Mount Rushmore

Mount Rushmore

Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a massive granite sculpture located in the Black Hills of South Dakota. It features the carved faces of four influential U.S. presidents: **George Washington**, **Thomas Jefferson**, **Theodore Roosevelt**, and **Abraham Lincoln**.

The monument symbolizes the **birth**, **growth**, **development**, and **preservation** of the United States.

History

• Sculpted by Gutzon Borglum between 1927 and 1941
• Chosen to represent key ideals and leadership in American history
• Originally intended to include the presidents’ full torsos, but funding limited the project

The Four Presidents

• George Washington – first president and the “father of the country”
• Thomas Jefferson – author of the Declaration of Independence and promoter of westward expansion
• Theodore Roosevelt – symbol of progressive reform and the construction of the Panama Canal
• Abraham Lincoln – preserved the Union during the Civil War and abolished slavery

Construction Facts

• Took 14 years to complete
• Over 400 workers contributed, using dynamite and fine carving tools
• Each face is approximately 60 feet tall

Controversy and Cultural Significance

• Built on land sacred to the Lakota Sioux, originally part of the Great Sioux Reservation
• Nearby Crazy Horse Memorial is an ongoing Native American response and tribute to indigenous heritage

Visitor Information

• Located near the town of Keystone, South Dakota
• Includes a visitor center, museum, and the Presidential Trail
• Annual events include patriotic ceremonies and night-time lighting

Fun Facts

• Mount Rushmore is sometimes called the “Shrine of Democracy”
• It attracts over 2 million visitors each year
• A hidden chamber called the Hall of Records exists behind Lincoln’s head (not open to the public)

See Also

• Presidents of the United States
• South Dakota
• National Monuments of the United States
• Crazy Horse Memorial
• Black Hills