Historian Doane Robinson originally envisioned the sculptures carved into the Needles area of the Black Hills, but backed down from that idea due to the poor quality of the granite and strong opposition from environmentalists and Native American groups. Working with sculptor Gutzon Borglum, the two settled on the Mount Rushmore location, the tallest mountain in the region, which also has the advantage of facing southwest for maximum sun exposure.... more
Historian Doane Robinson originally envisioned the sculptures carved into the Needles area of the Black Hills, but backed down from that idea due to the poor quality of the granite and strong opposition from environmentalists and Native American groups. Working with sculptor Gutzon Borglum, the two settled on the Mount Rushmore location, the tallest mountain in the region, which also has the advantage of facing southwest for maximum sun exposure. October 31 marks the 70th anniversary of Mount Rushmore's completion. Photo: FPG/Getty Images
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The selection of Mount Rushmore as the location of the memorial was no less controversial than the proposed Needles site. The United States seized the area -- which had been granted to the Lakota people in perpetuity in 1868 -- from the tribe after the Great Sioux War of 1876.
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Borglum also wanted to include an enormous panel in the shape of the Louisiana Purchase that would include the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and several historically significant territorial acquisitions in American history. These plans were also scrapped due to shortage of funds.
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When he began the Mount Rushmore project, sculptor Gutzon Borglum (pictured here hanging below the eye) was an active member of the Ku Klux Klan. He would later deny his relationship with the racist group in an attempt to preserve his reputation. Borglum had been involved in sculpting the Confederate Memorial Carving, a massive bas-relief memorial to Confederate leaders on Stone Mountain in Georgia.
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The four presidents chosen by Borglum were all in office during America's period of Manifest Destiny and the annexation of Native American land. In 1971, members of the American Indian Movement led an occupation of the monument, calling it Mount Crazy Horse after the Lakota warrior. The Crazy Horse Memorial is being constructed elsewhere in the Black Hills (even though the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation has rejected the offer of federal funds, it is intended to be larger than Mount Rushmore).
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After Congress authorized the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Commission on March 3, 1925, GOP President Calvin Coolidge decided that along with George Washington, two Republicans and one Democrat would be depicted on the mountain.
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The landmark's original plans called for the sculptures to be depicted from head to waist, but funding issues limited the carvings to just the heads.
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Mount Rushmore is a quintessentially American landmark -- oversized, expensive, and marked by controversy. The attraction, which turns 70 on Oct. 31, 2011, was conceived as a tourist draw, not primarily as a national monument. Amid questions about the sculptor's background and a dispute over Native American treaties, 400 workers took 14 years to create the memorial. LIFE.com takes a look back at the history of this man-made American marvel.
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Man is so creative, but yet so destructive. This place is on my list of places to visit.
Its amazing how much of the mountain was removed for the carving.
Still, a landmark that should survive the test of time to be remembered for thousands of years.
Went last summer. Truly one of those 'places you must see before you die' locations. The 'new' Crazy Horse carving they're doing is even better than Rushmore, IMO. Also, the Black Hills are one of the most beautiful spots in the USA. Love telling people how much I love South Dakota because you always get the "but why?!" response. Well worth the trip.
I have been there three times and marvel at its beauty every time. Happy Birthday!
I'll visit when they put Jefferson by God Davis up there in place of Lincoln!
OCKLAWAHA
Quote from: BridgeTroll on November 01, 2011, 06:55:30 AM
I have been there three times and marvel at its beauty every time. Happy Birthday!
How do you usually get there? Drive? Fly? Took a road trip that way via car. Marveled at how difficult it would be to get back there, unless I wanted to drive again, or take 3 connecting flights.
Quote from: ben says on November 01, 2011, 12:47:48 PM
Quote from: BridgeTroll on November 01, 2011, 06:55:30 AM
I have been there three times and marvel at its beauty every time. Happy Birthday!
How do you usually get there? Drive? Fly? Took a road trip that way via car. Marveled at how difficult it would be to get back there, unless I wanted to drive again, or take 3 connecting flights.
Drove... I was traveling between Wisconsin and Cali...