Mount Rushmore

Mount Rushmore is a large stone monument located in the Black Hills of South Dakota in the United States. The monument shows the carved faces of four presidents of the United States. These presidents are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. Each face is about 18 meters tall. The monument is carved into a mountain made of granite, a very hard type of rock. Mount Rushmore is part of a protected area called Mount Rushmore National Memorial. The site includes viewing areas, walking paths, and information centers. The monument is known for its size and for the detailed carving of the faces.

The mountain where Mount Rushmore stands is part of a region long known to Native American groups, especially the Lakota people. The Lakota are an Indigenous group who lived in the area for many generations. They called the mountain Tȟuŋkášila Šákpe, which means Six Grandfathers. In the late 1800s, the area became part of the United States after conflicts and treaties. The mountain was later named Mount Rushmore after Charles E. Rushmore, a lawyer who visited the area in 1885. This name later became the official name used by the government.

The idea for Mount Rushmore came from Doane Robinson, a historian from South Dakota. He wanted to create a large monument to bring attention to the region. The sculptor chosen for the project was Gutzon Borglum. A sculptor is a person who creates shapes or figures by carving or shaping material such as stone. Borglum designed the monument and selected the four presidents. Work on Mount Rushmore began in 1927. The project was funded by the federal government and private donations. Borglum led a team of workers, engineers, and assistants.

The carving process was difficult and dangerous. Workers used drills, chisels, and explosives to remove large amounts of rock. Explosives are materials that break rock apart when set off. Most of the rock was removed using controlled explosions. After that, workers shaped the details by hand. The workers were suspended on ropes and platforms high above the ground. Safety equipment was limited by modern standards, but no workers died during the carving. The faces were designed to be seen from far away, so details were shaped larger than normal.

The four presidents were chosen for specific reasons related to their roles in U.S. history. George Washington was the first president and helped form the nation. Thomas Jefferson was the third president and wrote the Declaration of Independence. Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th president and is associated with the growth of the country and national parks. Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president and led the country during the Civil War. The order of the faces from left to right is Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln. Each face took several years to complete.

Construction of Mount Rushmore ended in 1941. Gutzon Borglum died earlier that year, and his son Lincoln Borglum helped finish the work. The original plan included carving the upper bodies of the presidents, but this was not completed due to lack of funds and time. Today, Mount Rushmore is managed by the National Park Service. Visitors can view the monument, learn about its history, and see exhibits about the carving process. The monument remains a well-known landmark in the United States.