If you’re familiar with American landmarks, you’ve likely heard of Mount Rushmore – a travel destination in South Dakota. Located in the Black Hills region of South Dakota, Mount Rushmore features the carved faces of four American presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. But who was the architect of this iconic monument, and when was it finished?
The idea for Mount Rushmore originated with a South Dakota historian and writer named Doane Robinson. He wanted to create a tourist attraction that would draw people to the state. Robinson’s idea was to carve the faces of famous people into the Black Hills. He initially considered the idea of carving figures of Western heroes like Buffalo Bill Cody or Red Cloud. However, he eventually settled on the idea of carving the faces of American presidents. He believed it would have more appeal to a wider audience.
The Borglum Story
Robinson enlisted the help of sculptor Gutzon Borglum to bring his idea to life. Borglum was a well-known and respected sculptor who had worked on a number of projects throughout his career. One of them was the Stone Mountain Confederate Memorial in Georgia. Naturally, Borglum agreed to take on the project, and work began on Mount Rushmore in 1927.
There is not surprise that Borglum and his team of workers faced many challenges during the construction of Mount Rushmore. The project was not without controversy, as the land on which it was being built was considered sacred by the Lakota Sioux tribe. There were also technical difficulties to overcome, such as the hardness of the rock and the unstable nature of the mountain. Despite these challenges, Borglum persevered and work on the monument continued.
Over the years, Borglum and his team carved the faces of the four presidents into the mountain using dynamite and other tools. They used a combination of techniques to create the likeness of each president, including drilling and blasting, as well as hand-carving with chisels and hammers. The faces of the presidents were carved at a scale of 60 feet tall. Which is roughly the height of a six-story building.
Construction on Mount Rushmore continued until 1941, when the project was halted due to the outbreak of World War II. The monument was never completed as Borglum had envisioned it. He had originally planned to include more than just the four faces of the presidents. He had also wanted to include the upper bodies of the presidents, as well as other patriotic symbols. However, due to funding and time constraints, the project was scaled back and ultimately completed as we see it today.
Was Mt. Rushmore ever finished?
So when was Mount Rushmore finished? Although the monument was never fully completed, the carving of the four presidential faces was finished in 1941, after 14 years of work. The monument was officially dedicated on July 4, 1930. Since then it became one of the most recognizable and beloved landmarks in the United States.
In conclusion, Gutzon Borglum was the architect of Mount Rushmore. He worked tirelessly for 14 years to carve the faces of four American presidents into the Black Hills of South Dakota. Although the monument was never fully completed, it remains a testament to the skill and perseverance of Borglum and his team of workers. Today, Mount Rushmore is a beloved symbol of American history and a popular travel destination for people from all over the world.
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