I’ve heard of Mount Rushmore most of my life. I’ve admired the unimaginable ability to carve faces into rock. But I’ve never thought about visiting until I realized how close we would be when passing through South Dakota on our recent road trip. I was excited to see the monument and understand how it might feel to experience it in person.
It was breathtaking and we picked a fabulous afternoon to visit, bright with sunshine and minimal crowds, since it was early in the season.
I always try to find a small yet informative book at most of our travel stops in order to learn and gain more understanding of my visit. They had a lot to offer and I decided on “Mount Rushmore Monument to America’s Democracy” by Dorothy K Hilburn and Steven L Walker. As I read through the pages I realize there is so much more to the making of Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
As a proud American, I love to learn how those who preceded me helped built this nation. I am glad those before me took steps to preserve and share the history that makes us who we are today. We are not a perfect nation, but we have founders who were brilliant, creative, adventurous, and inventive to stand on what they believed in and empower the nation.
As I read through the book I realize there is so much I did not know. The idea of Mount Rushmore started with Doane Robinson, secretary of the State Historical Society of South Dakota, in order to increase tourism and share the wonders of his state. After reading about the mountain carving in Stone Mountain, near Atlanta Georgia, he contacted the sculptor, Gutzon Borglum, in hopes something could be created in South Dakota. You can see a photo of Stone Mountain here and click “more details” to learn more.
Here just a few of the facts around the creation of Mount Rushmore:
- The project officially began October 4th 1927
- The project ended October 31st, 1941
- Only six and a half years were actually spent carving
- The cost was $989,992.32, of which $836,000 was paid for by the government
- The memorial is visitied by more than three million people a year
- Gutzon’s son Lincoln was kept involved in his dad’s work at young age
- When Gutzon died unexpected in 1941 Lincoln became the project’s sculptor
- Lincoln completed as much as he could before funding ran out for good at the beginning of World War II
- Lincoln was appointed the first National Park Service superintendent at Mount Rushmore
- Gutzon made sure safety equipment and rules were utilized, and because of that, no deaths occurred over the many years of work on the mountain
Gutzon had ideas on incorporating other features honoring our presidents, but as happens so many times, disagreements and temperaments created roadblocks. However, one idea, the Hall of Records, although never fully completed, did get resurrected by Lincoln’s daughter, Mary Ellis Borglum Vhay. Gutzon’s dream was somewhat of a time capsule so “the world a thousand years from now would have something interesting and educational to look at”. A 70-foot tunnel was blasted into the mountain behind the heads. In 1998 Mary helped burry items in a titanium vault at the entrance of the Hall of Records.
The Avenue of Flag was redesigned in 2020 for accessibility needs at Mount Rushmore. The original columns displaying the flags were removed and the pathway expanded to better accommodate visitors as they make their way to the Grand View Terrace.
“Don’t say ‘I can’t’ on this work. The ‘I can’ts’ are unknown in this world’s work and unremembered in history.”
~ Sculptor Gutzon Borglum
“…Hence, let us place there, carved high, as close to heaven as we can, the words of our leaders, their faces, to show posterity what manner of men they were.”
~ Gutzon Borglum
GOD BLESS AMERICA ❤️🤍💙
Note: We stayed in the small town of Keystone, at Comfort Inn, just down the hill from Mt. Rushmore. The lobby and staff were warm and welcoming. There were a few shops and restaurants along the main road, but because it was early in the season, many were not open. We enjoyed the quiet, friendly, small-town feel without the crowds.
peace of life today 
An amazing work of art Lisa, thanks for the info on its history.
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It was amazing, thank you!
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Fascinating! 🙂
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Thank you! 😊. It was!
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Amazing, I hope to get there one day
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I almost didn’t schedule it in, not realizing how close we would be. Fortunately I check out the map pretty well to see what is nearby on our route.
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Mt. Rushmore is incredible … so I’m glad I got to see it … and like you, on a beautiful day. As big as it is, it is small compared to the nearby Crazy Horse monument (which fascinated me).
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Thank you Frank. And we stopped at Crazy Horse on the way! Watch for a post on that soon. We watched the documentary on it and I was truly fascinated! What an amazing ongoing masterpiece! I’m so glad a family member told us to check it out, I’d never heard of Crazy Horse!
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I will be on the lookout. In terms of size, Rushmore is very small compared to Crazy Horse.
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Yes it is, in fact I just looked it up to compare!
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What a splendid post about this fascinating place. I love the angles and perspectives you captured. I’ve been to Stone Mountain – it’s further away from me than Mount Rushmore! I should really take a trip here some day – this time of year seems like a good time to go. The 2020 celebration there was a huge success – I hope that can continue again some day!
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Oh, but now I want to see Stone Mountain! How fascinating!!
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It was fascinating to see 30+ years ago… 😂😉
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“Built on sacred Native American land and sculpted by a man with ties to the Ku Klux Klan, Mount Rushmore National Memorial was fraught with controversy even before it was completed 79 years ago on October 31, 1941.”
Sounds like a great idea to have swung by for the chance to visit that monument.
I, too, was always in awe of Mount Rushmore. I learned about it in school but it was seeing it first on an episode of Buck Rodgers and then in the Hitchcock film North by Northwest where the monument really made an impression on me.
It’s been later in life where I came across more of the truth about the building of this monument that has thrown a darker spin on it, for me.
I’d still love to see it someday but I’m glad I am aware of the broader story too so I can appreciate the complexity of its history.
If interested, you can read further on the controversial building of Mount Rushmore here (from where the above quote was taken):
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/the-strange-and-controversial-history-of-mount-rushmore
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Awwww, I was not able to view the article without providing my email. Sadly, there are many controversies mixed in the history of our nation, and I don’t doubt this one as well. Human nature is not always as it should be 😢. I don’t condone actions, but I am able to see the good, and am ever the optimist that we learn from past mistakes. Not always sure it is the case, however. But, I do appreciate the good that comes from it, and the honoring of those who helped build our nation. I appreciate your comments! And my dad mentioned that movie, now I want to watch it!
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Aw, sorry to provide an unhelpful link (I must be able to view it under different rules in Europe). Anyway, yes history is complex, just as we humans are. I love your positive outlook, we sure can find the good that so many people do have within! 💜
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We’ve visited Mt. Rushmore a few times and it truly is amazing what they were able to do back then with dynamite blasts and the lack of modern technology to guide them. We’ve also visited the Crazy Horse Monument, which isn’t far from there and is massive by comparison and has its own interesting history.
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Terry, we visited Crazy Horse the same day! Actually on the way to Mt. Rushmore. They were both amazing. …we watched the documentary on Crazy Horse, it was captivating. Watch for a post on that location coming soon! Thank goodness it was clear and sunny so we could see it! 😊
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As a non-American I couldn’t help be impressed by Mount Rushmore even though it held less significance for me personally – it’s an amazing achievement!
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Thank you, Sarah! I am quite fascinated by what people can do. People are talented and resourceful. It is simply mind boggling!!
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Really remarkable!
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Thank you, Terri! I’m so glad we took the time to stop!
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We sure enjoyed this post. Would love to see it ourselves. Thanks for the wonderful pictures and story of the sculptures.
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You are welcome! It sure was beautiful the day we were there!
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I saw Mount Rushmore many years ago. When we got out of the car in the parking lot and looked up, a cloud went over all the faces. I was so sad. It was an overcast day, and I thought the Cloud would sit there. But it did not, and I got to see Mount Rushmore!
Thanks for the information!
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Oh I’m so happy that the cloud floated away! I was SO happy that it was sunny for us. In fact the few puffy clouds just made it more beautiful in my opinion.
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Definitely on my bucket list, and we’re going later this year! You had a nice sunny day to light up all the textures and details! Great post!!
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Thank you! Yes the weather was fantastic! We drove from Colorado that day and drove through snow and ice to a clear sunny (but cold) afternoon at Mt Rushmore. If you go, make sure to stop at Crazy Horse! I will do a post on that in the near future. Also totally amazing!
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