Mount Rushmore

                     

 

               Mount Rushmore, a United States landmark, located in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Behind the great creation of Mount Rushmore is a long interesting history. Read more to discover the interesting facts of Mount Rushmore.

             Mount Rushmore, named in 1885 for New York lawyer Charles E. Rushmore, was deemed y the spot for immortalization of U.S. history by Doane Robinson. Robinson wanted a sculpture that acted as a “gateway to the west”. He was not the first American who wanted to create a monument in the west. Missouri Senator Thomas Hart Benton wanted to make a memorial of Christopher Columbus in the Rocky Mountains. In the early 1920’s Gutzon Borglum was carving a Confederate memorial on Stone Mountain in Georgia.  He became the perfect person to create such an incredible wonder in South Dakota.

             President Calvin Coolidge dedicated the memorial in 1927 anticipating more than 14 years of work. The actual creation took on six and half years to carve.  There were financial problems in the late twenties because of the Great Depression, but Borglum was able to raise enough money to continue the project. In 1930 the head of President George Washington was dedicated. In 1936 President Thomas Jefferson’s head was dedicated. In 1937 President Abraham Lincoln’s head was dedicated and in 1939 President Theodore Roosevelt’s head was dedicated.  In 1941 Borglum died approximately 50 years before the full creation was finally dedicated. 

              Construction of the monument was not easy to complete. The construction used craftsmanship and expertise. They used dynamite to clear large rocks. They prepared and egg shape volume of the rock which became the base for the head. Specialist blasted rock with in a few inches of measurements.  Using tools such as wedges, hammers and air powered hammer and nails helped create the finished heads’.

            The presidents were chosen as representatives of a great nation. Washington, who has the most prominent place on the mountain since he led this nation to democracy. Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence and the 3rd president of the United States. Abraham Lincoln who restored a much divided Union prior to Civil War and ended slavery in the United States.  Finally, Theodore Roosevelt, who was Borglum’s choice, promoted the construction of the Panama Canal and promoted the causes of business reforms and conservation.  All these men were very important presidents in history, deserving the right to be immortalized on this beautiful mountain.

   

 

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