Mount Rushmore National Memorial ⓘ

Mount Rushmore National Memorial was carved from granite known locally as the Harney Peak granite. This granite is a fine-grained granite with zones, or veins, of large crystals called pegmatite. These pegmatite zones are weaker and more susceptible to cracking than the surrounding granite.

In 1989, the National Park Service and the Mount Rushmore Society began studies to understand the structure of the mountain itself. Through these studies, the major fractures and blocks of granite that make up the mountain were identified and mapped in three dimensions.

Using a method known as Key Block Analysis, the blocks of granite in the sculpture were identified and categorized. Four blocks have been identified as potential key blocks, and are located in the sculpted faces of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt. If any of three of these potential key blocks were to move, it is believed this would allow other blocks of granite to move also.

Another purpose of the study was to determine the effectiveness of the original sealant applied to the cracks on the sculpture. The substance devised by Gutzon Borglum, a mixture of linseed oil, white lead, and granite dust, was found to have dried out quickly and became ineffective at keeping water out of the cracks.

National Park Service staff began removing the old sealant and replacing it with a modern silicone sealant. Modern sealants are better able to withstand the extreme temperature and moisture variations that occur on Mount Rushmore. Similar to what Borglum had done, the silicone is camouflaged after it is applied by sprinkling granite dust on its surface.

As part of the efforts to preserve Mount Rushmore National Memorial, a monitoring system was installed in 1998. Electronic instruments capable of measuring even slight movement in three dimensions were placed along some of the major fractures. The instruments also record the temperature of the air and the rock surface.

The instruments are attached directly to the sculpture and are capable of measuring movement of less than 0.0001 inches. Measurements are recorded four times a day and relayed to a central computer.

Currently, there is no evidence that the sculpture is in any danger. No movement of the blocks of granite has been detected.

Monitoring the sculpture will help to identify potential problems quickly. Once problems are identified, solutions can be found that will allow continued preservation of this unique work of art.

Gutzon Borglum selected these four presidents because from his perspective, they represented the most important events in the history of the United States. Would another artist at that time, or perhaps a modern artist choose differently? As you read more about Borglum's choices, think about what you might have done if the decision was up to you.

Born 1732, died 1799. Washington led the colonists in the American Revolutionary War to win independence from Great Britain. He was the father of the new country and laid the foundation of American democracy. Because of his importance, Borglum chose Washington to be the most prominent figure on the mountain and represent the birth of the United States.

"The preservation of the sacred fire of Liberty, and the destiny of the Republican model of Government, are justly considered as deeply, perhaps as finally staked, on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people." George Washington

George Washington Birthplace National Monument The White House - Presidents - George Washington

Born 1743, died 1826. Jefferson was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, a document which inspires democracies around the world. He also purchased the Louisiana Territory from France in 1803 which doubled the size of our country, adding all or part of fifteen present-day states. Gutzon Borglum chose Jefferson to represent the growth of the United States.

"We act not for ourselves but for the whole human race. The event of our experiment is to show whether man can be trusted with self - government." Thomas Jefferson

Other places to learn more about Thomas Jefferson: Thomas Jefferson Memorial National Memorial Jefferson National Expansion Memorial National Memorial The White House - Presidents - Thomas Jefferson

Born 1858, died 1919. Roosevelt provided leadership when America experienced rapid economic growth as it entered the 20th Century. He was instrumental in negotiating the construction of the Panama Canal, linking the east and the west. He was known as the "trust buster" for his work to end large corporate monopolies and ensure the rights of the common working man. Borglum chose Roosevelt to represent the development of the United States.

"The first requisite of a good citizen in this Republic of ours is that he shall be able and willing to pull his weight - that he shall not be a mere passenger." Theodore Roosevelt

Other places to learn more about Theodore Roosevelt: Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site Sagamore Hill National Historic Site Theodore Roosevelt National Park The White House - Presidents - Theodore Roosevelt

Born 1809, died 1865. Lincoln held the nation together during its greatest trial, the Civil War. Lincoln believed his most sacred duty was the preservation of the union. It was his firm conviction that slavery must be abolished. Gutzon Borglum chose Lincoln to represent the preservation of the United States.

"I leave you hoping that the lamp of liberty will burn in your bosoms until there shall no longer be a doubt that all men are created free and equal." Abraham Lincoln

Other places to learn more about Abraham Lincoln: Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial Lincoln Home National Historic Site Lincoln Memorial National Memorial The White House - Presidents - Abraham Lincoln

To learn more about these four presidents and all the others follow this link to the White House.

Getting this project underway was a challenge all by itself. Once Doane Robinson and others had found a sculptor, Gutzon Borglum, they had to get permission to do the carving. Senator Peter Norbeck and Congressman William Williamson were instrumental in getting the legislation passed to allow the carving. Williamson drafted two bills, one each to be introduced in the United States Congress and the South Dakota Legislature. The bill requesting permission to use federal land for the memorial easily passed through Congress. The bill sent to the South Dakota Legislature faced more opposition. The Mount Harney National Memorial bill was defeated twice before narrowly passing. Governor Gunderson signed the bill on March 5, 1925, and established the Mount Harney Memorial Association later that summer.

Early in the project, money was hard to find, despite Borglum's promise that eastern businessmen would gladly make large donations. He also promised the citizens of South Dakota that they would not be responsible for paying for any of the mountain carving. In the summer of 1927, President Calvin Coolidge was in the Black Hills and Borglum was planning a formal dedication of the mountain. Borglum hired a plane to fly over the State Game Lodge in Custer State Park where Coolidge was staying. As he flew over, Borglum dropped a wreath to invite the President to the dedication ceremony. President Coolidge agreed to attend the ceremony, which was held on August 10, 1927, and gave a speech promising federal funding for the project.

Borglum arranged a meeting with the United States Secretary of the Treasury Andrew Mellon to secure his support for the project and the passage of a funding bill, the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Act. Borglum was able to convince Secretary Mellon of the importance of the project and gain his support for funding the entire cost. Gutzon Borglum instead asked only for half of what he needed, believing he would be able to match federal funding dollar for dollar with private donations. Senator Norbeck was stunned that Borglum had turned down the offer of full federal funding.

President Coolidge signed the bill authorizing government matching funds up to $250,000. The bill also called for the creation of a 12 member Mount Rushmore National Memorial Commission, with members appointed by the President. Coolidge appointed 10 members, leaving the final two spots to be filled by incoming president Herbert Hoover.

When Herbert Hoover took office, he quickly appointed the final two members to the commission, but did not seem in a hurry to meet with the commission, as required by the funding bill before work on the memorial could begin. Congressman Williamson was asked to make an appointment with the President and request that he organize the first commission meeting. Frustrated by the slow pace, Borglum decided to attempt to visit President Hoover himself. When he arrived at the White House, Borglum got into an altercation with the President's secretary and Williamson's appointment was canceled. Congressman Williamson was able to eventually reschedule a meeting with Hoover and convince him of the importance of the project and conducting the first commission meeting. President Hoover met with the commission within a few days, and officers were elected. On the following day, Congressman Williamson and John Boland, the newly elected secretary of the executive committee of the Mount Rushmore Commission, went to pick up the first $54,670.56 from Secretary Mellon. This amount matched what had already been spent on the project by the previous Mount Harney Memorial Association.

One notable exclusion from the new Mount Rushmore National Memorial Commission was Doane Robinson. The one person most responsible for conceiving the idea and who supported it for so long, Robinson's name was inexplicably not even on the list of potential candidates to serve on the commission. He continued to support the project and generously offered, "Let me help where I can." Soon, feeling unnecessary, Robinson started to drift away from the Rushmore project.

With the commission organized and money in the bank, Borglum could now begin to work in earnest on the mountain. He hired workers who began to install machinery and construct facilities. During the 1930's Senator Norbeck worked tirelessly to secure continued funding through emergency relief programs that were part of President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal, which were also matched with funds from the original appropriation bill.

In 1933, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 6166, which drastically changed the management of the project. Mount Rushmore was now placed under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service and was supervised by engineer Julian Spotts, who began to look for ways to improve efficiency and working conditions. Gutzon Borglum, always uneasy with outside control over his projects, became resentful of being under "the watchful eye of the government.

Borglum successfully returned control of the project to an appointed commission, mostly of his choosing, in 1938. The new commission allowed Borglum nearly complete control over most aspects of the project. During this time of increased freedom, Borglum began construction of a large repository, called the Hall of Records, in a valley behind the sculpture. This repository was intended to tell the story of Mount Rushmore and of the United States . After the United States Congress threatened to cut off all funding for the project unless used specifically to finish the sculpture itself, Borglum reluctantly stopped work on the hall in 1939. Due to later events, the Hall of Records was never finished.

Gutzon Borglum spent much of the last two years of the project traveling and working to secure additional funding. While he was away his son, Lincoln Borglum, supervised the work on Mount Rushmore. In March, 1941, as a final dedication was being planned, Gutzon Borglum died. This fact, along with the impending American involvement in World War II, led to the end of the work on the mountain. On October 31, 1941, Mount Rushmore National Memorial was declared a completed project.

Gaining permission to carve a mountain, acquiring funding and managing varied personalities were all a part of the challenge in creating Mount Rushmore National Memorial. For those involved, keeping the project moving forward often seemed more difficult than the actual work of carving the granite into a colossal sculpture of the four presidents. In the end, cooler heads, charm and determination allowed the memorial to become a reality. Mount Rushmore National Memorial has since become a great icon of American history.

Mount Rushmore is a project of colossal proportion, colossal ambition and colossal achievement. It involved the efforts of nearly 400 men and women. The duties involved varied greatly from the call boy to drillers to the blacksmith to the housekeepers. Some of the workers at Mount Rushmore were interviewed, and were asked, "What is it you do here?" One of the workers responded and said, "I run a jackhammer." Another worker responded to the same question, " I earn $8.00 a day." However, a third worker said, "I am helping to create a memorial." The third worker had an idea of what they were trying to accomplish.

The workers had to endure conditions that varied from blazing hot to bitter cold and windy. Each day they climbed 700 stairs to the top of the mountain to punch-in on the time clock. Then 3/8 inch thick steel cables lowered them over the front of the 500 foot face of the mountain in a "bosun chair". Some of the workers admitted being uneasy with heights, but during the Depression, any job was a good job.

The work was exciting, but dangerous. 90% of the mountain was carved using dynamite . The powdermen would cut and set charges of dynamite of specific sizes to remove precise amounts of rock.

Before the dynamite charges could be set off, the workers would have to be cleared from the mountain. Workers in the winch house on top of the mountain would hand crank the winches to raise and lower the drillers. If they went too fast, the drillers in their bosun chairs would be dragged up on their faces. To keep this from happening, young men and boys were hired as call boys. Call boys sat at the edge of the mountain and shout messages back and forth assuring safety. During the 14 years of construction not one fatality occurred.

Dynamite was used until only three to six inches of rock was left to remove to get to the final carving surface. At this point, the drillers and assistant carvers would drill holes into the granite very close together. This was called honeycombing. The closely drilled holes would weaken the granite so it could be removed often by hand.

Visitors to the site were very interested in the honeycombed granite and would often ask, "How can I get a piece of rock like that?" The hoist operator would usually respond, "Oh, I can't give that away. I'm holding onto it for a buddy of mine that works up on the mountain." The visitor would respond, "I'll pay, I'll give you $2.00 for it." The hoist operator's reply was, "Nope, nope, I'd really catch it if I gave away my buddy's piece of granite." If the visitors were very determined to get a piece of that granite, they would make another offer. "I'll give you $6.00 for that piece of honeycomb granite." The hoist operator would pretend to pause and think about it... then he would say, "Alright for $6.00 I'm willing to take the heat." The hoist operator would give the visitors the piece of honeycombed granite and take their $6.00. The visitor would leave very pleased with their rare and hard won souvenir. The hoist operator would wait until he was sure the visitors were gone and he would get on the phone to the top of the mountain and say, "Boys send down another one!" Another piece of honeycombed granite was sent down, ready for the next visitor looking for a special souvenir from Mount Rushmore.

After the honeycombing, the workers smoothed the surface of the faces with a hand facer or bumper tool. In this final step, the bumper tool would even up the granite, creating a surface as smooth as a sidewalk.

From 1927 to 1941 the 400 workers at Mount Rushmore were doing more than operating a jackhammer, they were doing more than earning $8.00 a day, they were building a memorial that people from across the nation and around the world would come to see for generations.

Gutzon Borglum replied to Doane Robinson's letter by telegram on August 28, 1924. The text of the telegram is below: Western Union Telegram Received at 39PAX 39BLUE Stamford Conn 129P Aug 28 1924 Doane Robinson Department of History Pierre SDak Your letter forwarded to me from Stone Mountain. Very much interested in your proposal, great scheme you have; hold to it; the North will welcome it. Am two years ahead in my southern work can get to Black Hills during September.

[Report No. 1435] In the House of Representatives January 17, 1925 Mr. Williamson introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Public Lands and ordered to be printed. February 10, 1925 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, and ordered to be printed.

To authorize the creation of a national memorial in the Harney National Forest Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that the Mount Harney Memorial Association hereafter to be created by the Legislature of South Dakota is hereby authorized to carve a memorial in heroic figures commemorative of our national history and progress upon a suitable exposure of the Harney Mountain Range, located within the boundaries of the Harney National Forest in the State of South Dakota. Such association is further authorized to select the name, location, and design of such memorial: provided, that the United States shall be put to no expense in respect of such memorial.

S. 4189 68th Congress, 2d Session In the Senate of the United States February 2, 1925 Mr. Norbeck introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Public Lands and Surveys

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that the Mount Harney Memorial Association hereafter to be created by the Legislature of South Dakota is hereby authorized to carve a memorial in heroic figures commemorative of our national history and progress upon a suitable exposure of the Harney Mountain Range, located within the boundaries of the Harney National Forest in the State of South Dakota. Such association is further authorized to select the name, location, and design of such memorial: provided, that the United States shall be put to no expense in respect of such memorial.

Gutzon Borglum had long dreamed of creating a written description to accompany the giant sculpture on Mount Rushmore. The original idea for the memorial included a large inscription or entablature to be carved alongside the figures. The entablature would describe the nine most important events in the history of the United States from 1776 to 1906 (From Washington to Roosevelt. It was to be about 80 by 120 feet in the shape of the Louisiana Purchase. This plan failed for two critical reasons. First, the text could not be made large enough to read at such a great distance. Also, after relocating the Jefferson head, that section of the mountain was needed for the Lincoln head. Because of these difficulties, another more lasting plan was developed.

Borglum next planned to create a large room within the mountain. This chamber would hold the documents and artifacts most central to American democratic history. The proposed large room, 80 by 100 feet was to be drilled into the north wall of the small canyon behind the faces. His scheme also called for an 800-foot granite stairway to reach the room. The steps would begin near his studio, rise gradually to meet the canyon mouth behind Lincoln’s head, and then lead to the entrance of the great hall.

The recesses inside this hall would house bronze and glass cabinets containing important historical documents, such as the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Also included in the hall would be busts of famous Americans and a list of U.S. contributions to the world in science, industry and the arts.

The entrance would be 20 feet high by 14 feet wide with cast glass doors opening into a higher chamber. A bronze eagle, with a wingspread of 38 feet, would be placed above the door. Words inscribed over the eagle would read: "America’s Onward March" and "The Hall of Records."

Construction of the hall took place between July 1938 and July 1939, when a 70-foot tunnel was blasted into the mountain. It remains very rough cut, and tapers to a point at the back. Work halted in 1939 when Congress directed that construction should be executed only on the faces. With Borglum’s death in 1941 and American involvement in World War II, all work on the memorial came to a close on October 31, 1941.

Although Borglum’s grand scheme for the Hall of Records had to be abandoned, the idea remained. On August 9, 1998, Gutzon Borglum’s dream was completed when a repository of records was placed in the floor of the hall entry. This repository consists of a teakwood box, inside a titanium vault, covered by a granite capstone. Etched on the capstone is the following quote by Gutzon Borglum:

"...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. Then breathe a prayer that these records will endure until the wind and rain alone shall wear them away."

The repository contains sixteen porcelain enamel panels. Inscribed on the panels is the story of how Mount Rushmore came to be carved, who carved it, the reasons for selecting the four presidents depicted on the mountain and a short history of the United States. This repository is not accessible to visitors but is left as a record for people thousands of years from now who may wonder how and why Mount Rushmore was carved.

Sculptor Gutzon Borglum was very concerned with the effects of light on the memorial. He spent hours studying the different shadows produced by the sun and made many adjustments to achieve the best viewing during daylight hours. Things changed in 1939 during the Theodore Roosevelt figure dedication when many different artificial ways of lighting the memorial were tried. The techniques ranged from shooting off flares to aerial bomb bursts and the use of searchlights. None of these were very successful. In April, 1948, Superintendent J. Estes Suter attended a meeting at Weaver Air Force Base (now Ellsworth Air Force Base) regarding a way to light the memorial by searchlights in time for a Rapid City Junior Chamber of Commerce celebration in May.

During the week of May 16 - 23 three giant army searchlights lit the memorial from a distance of three to four miles away. These lights were stationed at the first pigtail bridge on the Iron Mountain Road, on Iron Mountain itself and in Keystone. In order to maintain a communication link between all the lights State Patrol cars were positioned by each light and at the memorial headquarters. The combined power of all three lights equaled one billion candle power. The lighting was successful and they were turned on May 16 and remained on during the whole week for the celebration. The lighting success led to a brainstorming effort to find a more permanent solution.

In December, 1948, Superintendent Suter and three engineers from the National Park Service regional office in Omaha, Nebraska, met with the Black Hills Power and Light Company to discuss a plan to light the memorial. By August, 1949, Black Hills Power and Light had completed installation of a power line from Keystone to Mount Rushmore and began constructing power distribution boxes.

The power system was finished and tested by November, 1949. The lighting was a little disappointing as there were many unwanted shadows and not enough shadows for contrast at other points. Many at the time hoped the lighting would improve when all the lights were properly focused. Two banks of lights, each containing 27 Crouse-Hinds and Westinghouse searchlights were located southeast of the memorial on Doane Mountain near the concession building. Each of the 54 searchlights were rated at 1,500 watts and produced a combined total of 81,000 watts, after all the focusing was completed in December, it was determined that additional lights were needed.

The following April, a study determined that two more searchlights were needed to improve the lighting of the memorial. The efforts were partly successful, but again it was determined that an additional bank of eight to ten lights was needed. Adjustments to searchlights and the previously installed lights continued throughout the summer of 1950 and on June 25th a ceremony was held dedicating the new lighting system. Nearly 5,000 people attended the ceremony, which featured an address by columnist Drew Pearson. Shortly thereafter, from August 1 through Labor Day, lighting programs were held on a regular schedule from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

By mid February of 1951, the additional light bank was completed and tested. This third bank of lights consisted of eight searchlights (1,000 watts each) and was located to the east of the memorial. The three banks of lights now totaled 62 lights and equaled 89,000 watts.

As technology progressed the lighting system was upgraded in 1990 and then again in 1998. The 1998 upgrade consisted of 32 metal halide and high pressure sodium lights equaling 18,800 watts.

Most recently, in December, 2014, the memorial switched to a LED (light emitting diode) light system. This new system was donated by Musco Lighting from Oskaloosa, Iowa. Experts in sports venue lighting systems, Musco worked with staff from Mount Rushmore throughout 2014 to design, develop and install the newest and most energy efficient system ever used at the memorial.

Many visitors who have been here before are surprised when they arrive today. From the original roadside pullout to the current modern buildings, the facilities at Mount Rushmore National Memorial have changed over time. These changes have been made to better meet the needs of our visitors.

As visitation increased it became necessary to expand and improve our facilities. The existing facilities were constructed during the 1950's and 1960's, when visitation was less than half what it is today. Paths, walkways, trails, restrooms, parking spaces, and interpretive exhibits could no longer meet the needs of our visitors.

In the mid-1990's work began on new facilities that could accommodate the two million people that now visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial each year.

During the major reconstruction which began in 1994, the Visitor Center and the Buffalo Dining Room and Gift Shop were replaced. The current Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center sits on the site of the old dining room and gift shop (lower right corner of photo).

The current Carver's Café is located on the site of the old Visitor Center (middle left of photo). The new buildings provided much needed space and updated facilities for the growing number of visitors at Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

Over the years vehicle parking at the memorial became a concern as well. The previous parking facility held around 500 vehicles. During the summer of 1989 alone, visitation was high enough to exceed available parking on 36 days.

Traffic congestion was common with lines of cars stretching down the hill towards Keystone, with visitors eagerly waiting to get in. It became necessary to provide additional parking as visitation increased.

Throughout the summer months a lighting ceremony is held in the park's amphitheater each evening. The original amphitheater, built to hold 850 people, was simply too small for the continually growing audience. Currently, an average of 2,500 visitors attend this summer program nightly.

As Mount Rushmore National Memorial and its visitors move into the future the facilities here will continue to change, as the needs of our visitors change. What will not change, however, is the sculpture that these facilities sit beneath.

The mission of the National Park Service is to constantly balance the protection of our resources while providing a way for visitors to find their own meaning in these special places.

Initially, Calvin Coolidge was to write the history of the United States that would be carved on the Entablature, but he and Borglum disagreed on how the history should be worded. Calvin Coolidge died in 1933 before any definite wording was finalized. Gutzon Borglum teamed up with the Hearst newspapers in 1934 to sponsor an essay contest. The winner would have their words carved into some part of Mount Rushmore along with the four presidents. After winners were selected and prizes awarded, Borglum decided against carving any text into his sculpture.

A young Nebraskan named William Andrew Burkett, triumphed in the college-age category. On July 4, 1971, Burkett donated a bronze plaque of his award-winning essay, written in 1934 while attending Omaha University Law School. The plaque now hangs on the Borglum View Terrace at the memorial.

Almighty God, from this pulpit of stone the American people render thanksgiving and praise for the new era of civilization brought forth upon this continent. Centuries of tyrannical oppression sent to these shores, God-fearing men to seek in freedom the guidance of the benevolent hand in the progress toward wisdom, goodness toward men, and piety toward God.

Consequently, on July 4, 1776, our forefathers promulgated a principle never before successfully asserted, that life, liberty, equality, and pursuit of happiness were the birthrights of all mankind. In this declaration of independence beat a heart for all humanity. It declared this country free from British rule and announced the inalienable sovereignty of the people. Freedom’s soldiers victoriously consecrated this land with their life’s blood to be free forever more.

Then, in 1787 for the first time a government was formed that derived its just powers from the consent of the governed. General Washington and representatives from the 13 states formed this sacred Constitution, which embodies our faith in God and in mankind by giving equal participation in government to all citizens, distributing the powers of governing, three fold securing freedoms of speech and of the press, establishing the right to worship the Infinite according to conscience, and assuring this nation’s general welfare against an embattled world. This chart of national guidance has for more than 150 years weathered the ravages of time. Its supreme trial came under the pressure of Civil War, 1861-65. The deadly doctrines of secession and slavery were then purged away in blood. The seal of the Union’s finality set by President Lincoln, was accomplished like all our triumphs of law and humanity, through the wisdom and the power of an honest, Christian heart.

Far-sighted American statesmanship acquired by treaties, vast wilderness territories, where progressive, adventurous Americans spread civilization and Christianity.

In 1803, Louisiana was purchased from France. This acquisition extended from the Mississippi River, across the fertile prairie to the Rocky Mountains, and paved the way for America's preeminence among the nations.

In 1819, the picturesque Florida peninsula was ceded as payment of Spanish obligations due to Americans.

In 1845, Texas, having patterned American democracy during the ten years of freedom from Mexican rule, accepted the invitation to join the sisterhood of states. In 1846, the Oregon country was peacefully apportioned by the 49th parallel as the compromised international boundary of the two English-speaking nations.

In 1848, California and territory likewise rich in natural resources was acquired as the consequence of an inevitable conflict with Mexico. In spirit of mutual concession, the United States granted additional indemnities for the adjustment of the international boundary, extending from the Rio Grande to the Gulf of California.

In 1850, Texas willingly ceded the disputed Rio Grande region, thus ending the dramatic acquisition of the west.

In 1904, the Panama Canal Zone was acquired for our people to build a navigable highway enabling the world's people to share the fruits of the earth and human industry.

Now, these eras are welded into a nation possessing unity, liberty, power, integrity and faith in God, with responsible development of character and devoted to the performance of humanitarian duty.

Holding no fear of the economic and political, chaotic clouds hovering over the earth, the consecrated Americans dedicate this nation before God, to exalt righteousness and to maintain mankind's constituted liberties so long as the earth shall endure.

The path which led Sculptor John Gutzon de la Mothe Borglum to Mount Rushmore began on a homestead near Bear Lake, Idaho, where he was born in March of 1867. His father, James Borglum, had immigrated to this country from Denmark a few years earlier. Shortly after Gutzon's birth his family moved to Utah. By the time Borglum was seven they were living in Fremont, Nebraska.

Gutzon's interest in art developed early but he didn't receive any formal training until he attended a private school in Kansas. Shortly after being awarded the equivalent of a high school diploma he moved with his family to California. He worked there for a time as a lithographer's apprentice, but after six months he struck out on his own. After opening a small studio, he executed a few noteworthy commissions and gradually made a name for himself. In 1888, he completed a portrait of General John C. Fremont, and this marked an important point in his young career. Not only did it bring him recognition and acclaim; it also earned him the friendship of Jessie Benton Fremont, the General's wife. She encouraged the young artist and helped him sell many of his works. This eventually earned him enough money to pursue studies in Europe.

Shortly before his departure for France, Borglum married Elizabeth Putnam, an artist and teacher 20 years his senior. This marriage lasted only a few years. The constant traveling in Europe was too much for Elizabeth; they separated while Borglum was living in England and subsequently divorced.

Borglum's two years in Paris were spent studying art at the Julien Academy and the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. He had successful showings at major Paris salons and developed some valuable friendships, including a close relationship with the great French sculptor, Auguste Rodin, who carved The Thinker . After leaving France, Borglum spent a year in Spain and then returned to California. Three years later in 1896, he once again left for Europe; this time settling in England. Here he achieved some success. Some of his works were displayed at Windsor Castle for Queen Victoria. He returned to the United States in 1901.

Back in this country, Borglum led a life marked by artistic success, public service, and occasional controversy. During this period he created many of his finest works. His Mares of Diomedes was accepted by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. He did a large equestrian bronze of General Phil Sheridan which Theodore Roosevelt unveiled in Washington. He also created a memorial to Pickett's Charge on the Gettysburg Battlefield. For Newark, New Jersey, he created the Wars of America memorial and the Seated Lincoln .

Sometimes Borglum's art led to controversy. He was commissioned to do some statues for the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. One day a clergyman who was visiting the studio commented that one of the angels needed a sterner and more masculine face. This led to a debate over the gender of angels which the press followed with relish. Borglum eventually complied to the request, making the two angels outside the church more manly, however the angels inside remained more feminine. He saved the model of one of the offending faces for himself and later cast it in silver. Years later the story was repeated as evidence of Borglum's temper: in this version he smashed all of his angels and started over. This story was laid to rest by an official of the cathedral, who stated that, "The angels still stand serene in their places where Gutzon Borglum first placed them."

Controversy in Borglum's life was not limited to art. He led an active political life, campaigning for Theodore Roosevelt in his reelection bid of 1912. During the First World War, he was appointed by President Woodrow Wilson to investigate practices in the aircraft manufacturing industry. He discovered and reported such a scandalous state of affairs that Wilson appointed Chief Justice Hughes to conduct further investigations.

During most of this period, Borglum lived near Stamford, Connecticut, where he maintained a home and studio with his second wife Mary Montgomery Borglum, whom he married in 1909. Two children were born of this marriage, James Lincoln and Mary Ellis. He divided his working time between Stamford and New York where he also had a studio. It was in this New York studio that he created a work that was to have far-reaching consequences.

Since his return to the United States, Borglum had worked to create a distinctly "American" art. He began to experiment with the "emotional impact of volume." Out of a large block of marble, he fashioned a colossal head of Abraham Lincoln, The work was completed and taken to a shop window in New York. When Robert Lincoln, the son of the late President, was taken to see the work, he exclaimed, "I never expected to see father again." The bust was later purchased and donated to the people of the United States and placed in the rotunda of the Capitol Building where it remains today.

It was the bust of Lincoln that prompted Helen Plane, President of United Daughters of the Confederacy, to contact Borglum about the Possibility of doing a head of Robert E. lee on the side of Stone Mountain in Georgia. He agreed to visit the site in 1915 but upon seeing the size of the place he said, "Ladies, the head of Lee on the side of that mountain would look like a postage stamp on a barn door!" Having thus crushed their dream, he proceeded to give them a new one –a large group featuring Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and Jefferson Davis on horseback followed by a column of soldiers.

Because of World War I, work at Stone Mountain did not begin until 1923. Carving was limited to jackhammers and chisels until a visiting Belgian engineer taught Borglum the use of dynamite for precise work. The head of Lee was unveiled in 1924. Soldiers in the audience who served with the Confederate leader were moved to tears by the likeness.

However, trouble had been brewing between Borglum and the businessmen directing the project, and Borglum was abruptly dismissed. He destroyed his models in order to protect his design and this so angered the directors that a warrant was issued for his arrest and he was forced to flee Georgia. Borglum's head of Lee was removed when another artist was engaged and none of his work survived when the carving was finally finished in 1970. However, the spirit of his original design remains.

In 1923, Doane Robinson, the State Historian of South Dakota, read of the Stone Mountain venture and wrote to Borglum about the possibility of doing a mountain carving in the Black Hills. Borglum came to South Dakota in 1924 at the age of 57 and agreed in principle to do the project. His dismissal from Stone Mountain made it possible to return to South Dakota in the summer of 1925 and set in motion the machinery that eventually led to the creation of Mount Rushmore. Work on the sculpture began in 1927. Borglum remained devoted to the project until his death in Chicago following surgery on March 6, 1941, several days before his 74th birthday. He was buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, California. After his death, the project fell to his son Lincoln who in turn put the finishing touches on his father's vision.

James Lincoln Borglum was born on April 9, 1912, in Stamford, Connecticut. On September 24, 1924, 12 year old Lincoln accompanied his father on their first trip to the Black Hills of South Dakota. They were invited by Doane Robinson, South Dakota State Historian, to see if it would be possible to carve a mountain in the Black Hills. During their search of the area around the Needles they quickly found that the rock in this area was not suitable for carving. A second trip took place in August of 1925 and it was during this trip when Mr. Borglum found Mount Rushmore.

Lincoln was his father's right hand man and he worked for several years on the mountain without pay at several different positions including the crucial position of "pointer." Finally in 1934 he was hired at an hourly wage. Lincoln was promoted to chief pointer in 1935. He progressed very quickly during this time and became the superintendent of all work in 1938.

Being the boss' son did not guarantee he would be liked or have an easy time working with the other men. Indeed, many saw Lincoln as a young man who had lived a privileged life. However, Lincoln's quiet, friendly personality and strong work ethics soon won everyone over. He was well liked by all.

After his father's death on March 6, 1941, he took on the responsibility of sculptor. From 1941 –1943 he served as the first National Park superintendent at Mount Rushmore. James Lincoln Borglum remains the unsung hero of Mount Rushmore National Memorial. He died of a heart attack in 1986 at the age of 74. He is buried in San Antonio, Texas.

Mount Rushmore was named after Charles E. Rushmore. His letter to Doane Robinson below explains how this happened:

My friend, Mr. Lawrence F. Abbott, of The Outlook, has handed to me your letter to of October 10, 1925, relating to the project of sculpting Rushmore Mountain, or Rushmore Rock, in the Black Hills of South Dakota; and, since then, I have seen a copy of your letter of November 28, 1925, to Mr. Julian Blount, of Redfield South Dakota, concerning the naming of the mountain. No doubt it will interest you to have accurate data on that subject. In your letter to Mr. Blount you say: "Rushmore Rock was named for Mr. Rushmore, a lawyer of Philadelphia who was interested in the Etta Mine." I am the lawyer in question, though of New York City, and not of Philadelphia. Late in 1883 the discovery of tin in the Black Hills was brought to the attention of a group of gentlemen in New York City and excited their interest. I was a youthful attorney at the time, and was employed by these gentlemen early in 1884 to go to the Black Hills and secure options on the Etta mine, and other cassiterite locations. My mission required me to remain several weeks in the Hills, and to return there on two or three later occasions in that year and in 1885. Part of my time was spent among prospectors at Harney, and at a log cabin built in that neighborhood. In my life among these rough, but kindly, men I conformed to their ways, and, may I say it with becoming modesty, was in favor with them. I was deeply impressed with the Hills, and particularly with a mountain of granite rock that rose above the neighboring peaks. On one occasion while looking from near its base, with almost awe, at this majestic pile, I asked of the men who were with me for its name. They said it had no name, but one of them spoke up and said "We will name it now, and name it Rushmore Peak." That was the origin of the name it bears, and, as I have been informed, it is called Rushmore Peak, Rushmore Mountain and also Rushmore Rock. Some time after the incident above narrated I was told that the name and identification of the Rock, or Mountain, was recorded in the Land Office in Washington at the instance of some of the good friends referred to, but I have never sought to verify this feet. As you well say in your letter to Mr. Abbott this Rock is unique and lends itself admirably to a national monument of the kind you have suggested. I trust you may succeed in carrying out the proposed design.

President Calvin Coolidge spent the summer of 1927 in the Black Hills. During his stay, he attended the dedication ceremony for the start of the work on Mount Rushmore on August 10th. The text of his speech is below:

We have come here to dedicate a cornerstone that was laid by the hand of the Almighty. On this towering wall of Rushmore, in the heart of the Black Hills, is to be inscribed a memorial which will represent some of the outstanding features of four of our Presidents, laid on by the hand of a great artist in sculpture. This memorial will crown the height of land between the Rocky Mountains and the Atlantic seaboard, where coming generations may view it for all time.

It is but natural that such a design should begin with George Washington, for with him begins that which is truly characteristic of America. He represents our independence, our Constitution, our liberty. He formed the highest aspirations that were entertained by any people into the permanent institutions of our Government. He stands as the foremost disciple of ordered liberty, a statesman with an inspired vision who is not outranked by any mortal greatness.

Next to him will come Thomas Jefferson, whose wisdom insured that the Government which Washington had formed should be entrusted to the administration of the people. He emphasized the element of self-government which had been enshrined in American institutions in such a way as to demonstrate that it was practical and would be permanent. In him, likewise, embodied the spirit of expansion. Recognizing the destiny of this Country, he added to its territory. By removing the possibility of any powerful opposition from a neighboring state, he gave new guaranties to the rule of the people.

After our country had been established, enlarged from sea to sea, and was dedicated to popular government, the next great task was to demonstrate the permanency of our Union and to extend the principle of freedom to all inhabitants of our land. The master of this supreme accomplishment was Abraham Lincoln. Above all other national figures, he holds the love of his fellow countrymen. The work which Washington and Jefferson began, he extended to its logical conclusions.

That the principles for which these three men stood might be still more firmly established destiny raised up Theodore Roosevelt. To political freedom he strove to add economic freedom. By building the Panama Canal he brought into closer relationship the east and the west and realized the vision that inspired Columbus in his search for a new passage to the Orient.

Sculptor Gutzon Borglum's introduction: "I want you, Mr. President, to dedicate this memorial as a Shrine to Democracy; to call upon the people of the earth for one hundred thousand years to come to read the thought and to see what manner of men struggled here to establish self-determined government in the western world. With the prayer that it shall not perish from the earth." President Roosevelt spoke as follows: "I think, my friends, that there are two people who told me about this in the early days – one of them was Mr. Borglum and the other was Senator Norbeck. On many occasions, when a new project is presented to you on paper and then, later on, you see the accomplishment, you are disappointed: but it is just the opposite of that in what we are looking at now. I had seen the photographs: I had seen the drawings and I had talked with those who are responsible for this great work, and yet I had had no conception until about ten minutes ago not only of its magnitude but of its permanent beauty and of its permanent importance. Mr. Borglum has well said that this can be a monument and an inspiration for the continuance of the democratic-republican form of government, not only in our own beloved country, but, we hope, throughout the world. This is the second dedication. There will be others by other presidents in other years. When we get through, there will be something for the American people that will last through not just generations but for thousands and thousands of years, and I think that we can perhaps meditate a little on those Americans ten thousand years from now when the weathering on the face of Washington and Jefferson and Lincoln shall have proceeded to perhaps a depth of a tenth of an inch – meditate and wonder what our descendants, and I think they will still be here, will think about us. Let us hope that at least they will give us the benefit of the doubt – that they will believe we have honestly striven every day and generation to preserve for our descendants a decent land to live in and a decent form of government to operate under. I am very glad to have come here today informally. It is right and proper that I should have come informally because we do not want formalities where nature is concerned. What we have done so far exemplifies what I have been talking about in the last few days – cooperation with nature and not fighting with nature. I am happy to congratulate all of you not only on what we see today but on what is going to happen in the future at Mount Rushmore."

Just as the smell of fresh cut grass tells you what is growing in the yard nearby, your sense of smell can help you identify some of the plants at Mount Rushmore. Some wildflowers have evolved to have very pleasant and sweet smells to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. Other plants smell sour or rotten to attract different pollinators like flies.

Trees and grasses can have distinct smells also. Smell can help you to discover something new. The Black Hills is a unique ecosystem where several plant ranges overlap. You can find northern, southern, eastern and western plants growing together in the Black Hills. The ponderosa pine is common in the western United States. Using your sense of smell you can easily identify the ponderosa pine trees that dominate the landscape in the Black Hills. Look for a tall pine tree with reddish bark. If it has long needles you may be looking at a ponderosa pine. Now walk right up to the tree and smell the bark. Does it smell sweet like vanilla or butterscotch? You have a ponderosa pine! Your sense of smell can help you identify plants at home and elsewhere.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial is home to a large variety of wildlife, some of which you may encounter during your visit. As a visitor to this habitat, take some time to learn about the wildlife and remember to respect their need for space while viewing them.

While some animals may spend part of the year close to roads and developed areas where they are easy to observe, remember to enjoy them from a distance. Wild animals may appear to tolerate people, but approaching too close can cause them stress and disturb them from their rest, natural feeding areas, and travel routes.

As you view and photograph wildlife, use binoculars or a telephoto lens to improve your view, instead of moving closer. Keep the animal's line of travel or escape route clear. If wildlife approaches you, move away. Allow other visitors a chance to enjoy wildlife. If your actions cause an animal to flee, you are too close and have deprived other visitors of a viewing opportunity.

Please remember not to feed wild animals. Animals have their own sources of food with the proper nutrition in the park;your food can only hurt them. Wrappers and plastic bags that human food is packaged in are often eaten by wildlife, which can cause serious health problems or even death.

Feeding wildlife can also cause them to lose their fear of people. Once habituated, these animals often become increasingly aggressive. Because they are still wild, they remain unpredictable and may strike out with antlers, horns, teeth, hooves, or claws without warning. Your close interaction with wildlife may seem like a positive experience, but you could be setting someone else up for injury. Many people are injured each year by animals that have begun to EXPECT humans to feed them.

By following these rules, you will help protect the animals here in their natural home. This will allow many generations of visitors to safely experience the thrill of seeing them in a natural state.

Rocky Mountain Goats demand a very specialized habitat. These skillful climbers inhabit the craggy granite core of the Black Hills. Mountain goats are not native to the Black Hills. The population can be traced to six goats, a gift to Custer State Park by Canada in 1924, that escaped from their pens and found their home among the Black Hills granite peaks. There are now more than 200 mountain goats in the area. They have long, shaggy white coats that contrast sharply with their black horns, nose and hooves. The mountain goat's hooves are very soft on the bottom, allowing them to climb very steep terrain.

Mule deer are commonly seen near Mount Rushmore. They spend summer days in the shade, moving and feeding during the early morning and late evening hours. In winter, they become more active during the warmer daylight hours. Mule deer eat a wide variety of grasses, wildflowers, shrubs, and parts of trees.

Yellow-bellied marmots can be seen along the Presidential Trail during the summer as they feed on grasses, broad-leaved plants and seeds. Marmots are true hibernators and are not active from late October until late April.

The least chipmunk (below) is a small member of the squirrel family. They can be seen bounding around all parts of Mount Rushmore, usually moving very quickly. Chipmunks do not hibernate and feed year round on the fruits and grains of many plants, seeds from pine trees, and insects.

Red squirrels like to live in dense stands of mature trees, like the ponderosa pines found at Mount Rushmore. They harvest green pine cones to store for later eating, especially during winter. When available, red squirrels also eat tree buds, flowers, fruits, mushrooms, insects, and occasionally small mammals and bird eggs and nestlings.