What is some history of Mount Rushmore?

Answer 1

South Dakota State Historian Doane Robinson had the idea of having some carvings in the Black Hills of South Dakota. His idea was to sculpt the Needles into Indian leaders and American explorers who shaped the frontier.

Doane Robinson contacted Gutzon Borglum about the carvings in the Black Hills. Gutzon agreed to take on the project, but, seeing that the Needles were too fragile for carving, found another location, Mount Rushmore.

Mount Rushmore was named in 1885 for New York lawyer Charles E. Rushmore who was in the area on an expedition. The mountain was originally known to the Lakota as the "Six Grandfathers".

Carving on Mount Rushmore began on October 4, 1927. Funding was a problem throughout the years, and the monument was declared completed on October 31, 1941, although Gutzon Borglum had envisioned more, including a Hall of Records, which was started but never completed.

Gutson's son, Lincoln, completed the last 2 years of the sculpture while Gutzon traveled to raise more funds. Gutzon Borglum died in March of 1941.