Mount Rushmore
Mount Rushmore
What could be more fascinating than the colossal faces of four American Presidents carved into the side of a mountain. Located in the southwestern corner of South Dakota just 35 miles from Rapid City, the sculptures were conceived as a way to attract more tourists to the Black Hills.
In 1924 Sculptor Gutzon Borglum chose Mount Rushmore because it faced southeast, was the highest peak in the range and showed little evidence of erosion. Next, he selected the faces he would carve: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.
Using a plaster mold as his guide, Borglum increased the measurements proportionately and began the actual work in October of 1927.
Washington was the first, with the face of Jefferson started on Washington’s right, but the granite was cracked and Jefferson’s face was blasted off and started again on the left. It was to be the first of many trials and tribulations. Even the sculptor died before the project was finished in 1941.
Yet Mount Rushmore perhaps rightfully claims to be the most visited place in the United States. The carving of the mountain cost about $900,000. The faces are 465 feet tall and visitors are thrilled by the evening lighting ceremony in the amphitheater. The visitor center includes a gift shop, bookstore and dining facilities.
While you are there, don’t miss the Black Hills of South Dakota. The Black Hills are a part of the Rocky Mountains, yet appear to be set off from the rest of the range. They are not actually black, but are covered with trees that make them appear to be black from a distance. The name originated with the Cheyenne Native Americans.
However, the area did not gain fame until gold was discovered in 1874, which brought the notorious General George Armstrong Custer and his expedition. Today it is the home of Ellsworth Air Force Base. The major tourist spots include Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, Crazy Horse Memorial, and the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
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by Marti Talbott
Read Seattle Quake 9.2 at Marti Talbott’s Stories
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The Carving of Mount Rushmore – Buy U.S.
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