Why mount rushmore chosen

The U. Within a decade, however, gold was discovered in the region and, in , the U. Related: How photos help contemporary Osage Nation people heal.

After that, settlers and prospectors poured into the region. In , New York attorney Charles Rushmore visited to strike a deal on a tin mine, and, on a lark, Six Grandfathers was renamed after him. But the land dispute was not resolved. In the s, the Lakota tribes sued the U. By the s, South Dakota, now a U. Governor Peter Norbeck had also built the Needles Highway, a scenic route wending through the iconic granite formations of the Black Hills. Related: How should visitors deal with the racist implications of Stone Mountain?

Robinson envisioned an ode to the old West, with carvings of historic figures such as Lewis and Clark and Lakota leader Red Cloud. He reached out to Stone Mountain sculptor Gutzon Borglum —who would transform the granite mountain into what it is today.

Borglum had gained fame for sculptures honoring U. By August , Borglum had agreed to work on Mount Rushmore—but not the way Robinson had pitched it. Theodore Roosevelt, who had overseen the construction of the Panama Canal, was a symbol of economic growth.

And Abraham Lincoln was selected for having fought to preserve the nation in the Civil War. Over the next 16 years, Borglum wrangled with the federal government about funding and control of Mount Rushmore—which he never technically completed. Borglum hoped to carve the presidents down to their waists and chisel a description of the memorial next to them.

S historical artifacts. In , Borglum began blasting a foot tunnel into the mountain for his Hall of Records. Worried about funding as war loomed in Europe, however, the U. Borglum was still refining those heads when his health began to deteriorate. He died on March 6, , leaving his son, Lincoln, to continue his work. The project was declared finished on October 31, The tunnel that Borglum had drilled for the Hall of Records sat empty for decades until , when the National Park Service placed a titanium vault in the floor, filling it with information on Mount Rushmore, the presidents, and U.

However, the filming itself sparked a controversy. The National Park Service and the U. Department of the Interior cried foul, and ultimately asked Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to remove the credit line at the end of the movie thanking them for their cooperation. Mount Rushmore opened to the public even as the Lakota continued legal challenges.

In the decades since, the memorial and its surroundings have served as a flash point for the treatment of Native Americans. He also purchased the Louisiana Territory from France in which doubled the size of our country, adding all or part of fifteen present-day states. Gutzon Borglum chose Jefferson to represent the growth of the United States. The event of our experiment is to show whether man can be trusted with self - government.

Roosevelt provided leadership when America experienced rapid economic growth as it entered the 20th Century. He was instrumental in negotiating the construction of the Panama Canal, linking the east and the west. He was known as the "trust buster" for his work to end large corporate monopolies and ensure the rights of the common working man. Borglum chose Roosevelt to represent the development of the United States. Lincoln held the nation together during its greatest trial, the Civil War. Lincoln believed his most sacred duty was the preservation of the union.

It was his firm conviction that slavery must be abolished. Gutzon Borglum chose Lincoln to represent the preservation of the United States. To learn more about these four presidents and all the others follow this link to the White House. Phones are answered from a. Monday through Friday. Explore This Park. Info Alerts Maps Calendar Reserve. Alerts In Effect Dismiss. Dismiss View all alerts.

Why These Four Presidents? List of United States Presidents with their years in office and party affiliation: 1. George Washington - 2. John Adams - Federalist 3. Thomas Jefferson - Democratic - Republican 4. James Madison - Democratic - Republican 5. James Monroe - Democratic - Republican 6. John Quincy Adams - Democratic - Republican 7. Andrew Jackson - Democrat 8. Martin Van Buren - Democrat 9.

William Henry Harrison Whig John Tyler - Whig James K. The idea of a large mountain carving is credited to South Dakota State Historian Doane Robinson, who was looking for ways to attract tourists to the state. Carving began on October 4, , removing tons of granite and slowly shaping the mountain.

Originally meant to portray the presidents to the waist, only the heads were finished. However, Borglum wanted to appeal to a national audience and suggested featuring four presidents. Each face is approximately 60 feet in height and with noses longer than 20 feet. Their mouths are also about 18 feet wide.

Without Washington, there is no America. His steady leadership, integrity and judgement provided the foundation for our fledgling republic. His place on Mount Rushmore, his monument in the capital that bears his name, a state and numerous roads, counties, towns and universities are deserving tributes to this great man.

Thomas Jefferson is best known as the third President of the United States and the primary author of the Declaration of Independence. His wide-ranging interests included philosophy, politics, education, agriculture, architecture, music, art, literature and more. The amazing legacy of our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln, includes winning the Civil War and bringing an end to slavery in our country.

His speeches continue to inspire people today. This significant precedent gave life to the idea that places of scenic and natural importance should be protected for the benefit and enjoyment of the people. A New Yorker by birth, Roosevelt developed a deep passion for western lands, particularly the unique badlands of South Dakota.

Though his likeness is slightly set back, the details of his eyeglasses and mustache make him an interesting part of the sculpture. Carving Mount Rushmore was a project of colossal proportion, ambition and achievement. It involved the efforts of nearly men and women. The work was exciting, but dangerous. Ninety percent of the mountain was carved using dynamite. Only the last inches of rock were removed by drillers using jackhammers.