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| THE MAKING OF RUSHMORE | |||
| {{For|the 1960s rock band|Mount Rushmore (band)}} | |||
| Introduction | |||
| {{Infobox_protected_area | name = Mount Rushmore National Memorial | |||
| Mount Rushmore National Memorial is as much a product of dreams and determination as it is the work of a talented sculptor. Back to Top | |||
| | iucn_category = V | |||
| | image = Mountrushmore.jpg | |||
| | caption = (left to right) Sculptures of ], ], ], and ] represent the first 150 years of the history of the United States. | |||
| | location = ], ] | |||
| | nearest_city = ] | |||
| | lat_degrees = 43 | |||
| | lat_minutes = 52 | |||
| | lat_seconds = 44.21 | |||
| | lat_direction = N | |||
| | long_degrees = 103 | |||
| | long_minutes = 27 | |||
| | long_seconds =35.37 | |||
| | long_direction = W | |||
| | area = 1,278.45 acres (5.17 km²) | |||
| | established = ], ] | |||
| | visitation_num = 2,757,971 | |||
| | visitation_year = 2006 | |||
| | governing_body = ] | |||
| }} | |||
| '''Mount Rushmore National Memorial''', near ], ], is a monumental ] sculpture located within the ] that represents the first 150 years of the ] of the ] with 60-foot (18 m) ]s of the heads of former ]s: ] (1732-1799), ] (1743-1826), ] (1858-1919), and ] (1809-1865).<ref>. ] ].60 SD Web Traveler, Inc. URL accessed on ] ].</ref> The entire memorial covers 1,278 acres (5.17 km²),<ref>McGeveran, William A. Jr. ''et al'' (2004). ''The Word Almanac and Book of Facts 2004''. New York: World Almanac Education Group, Inc. ISBN 0-88687-910-8.</ref> and is 5,725 feet (1,745 m) above sea level.<ref name=peakbagger> (], ]). Peakbagger.com. URL accessed on ], ].</ref> It is managed by the ], a bureau of the ]. The memorial attracts approximately 2 million people annually.<ref name=NPSfacts>, National Park Service.</ref> | |||
| The Father of Rushmore | |||
| ==History== | |||
| ], followed by the process of "honeycombing".]] | |||
| Originally known to the ] ] as ''Six Grandfathers'', the mountain was renamed after ], a prominent ] lawyer, during an expedition in 1885.<ref>Belanger, Ian A. ''et al''. . URL accessed on ] ].</ref> At first, the project of carving Rushmore was undertaken to increase tourism in the ] region of South Dakota. After long negotiations involving a ] delegation and President ], the project received Congressional approval. The carving started in 1927, and ended in 1941 with a few injuries and no deaths.<ref name=NPSfacts/> | |||
| In 1923, Doane Robinson, the aging superintendent of the South Dakota State Historical Society, had a vision of a massive mountain memorial carved from stone so large it would put South Dakota on the map. Robinson told all who would listen of his dream of giant statues of Western figures such as General George Armstrong Custer, Buffalo Bill Cody, Lewis and Clark, and legendary Sioux warriors marching along South Dakota's skyline. Robinson spoke to local organizations and wrote letter upon letter. | |||
| As ''Six Grandfathers'', the mountain was part of the route that Lakota leader ] took in a spiritual journey that culminated at ]. Following a series of ] from 1876 to 1877, the United States asserted territorial control over the area, a claim that is still disputed on the basis of the 1868 ] (see ''Controversy'' below). Among white American settlers, the peak was known variously as Cougar Mountain, Sugarloaf Mountain, Slaughterhouse Mountain, and Keystone Cliffs. It was named Mount Rushmore during a prospecting expedition by Rushmore, David Swanzey (whose wife ] was the sister of author ]), and Bill Challis.<ref name=KAHS>Keystone Area Historical Society (accessed ] ]).</ref> | |||
| Many South Dakotans believed that a colossal sculpture would attract thousands of visitors with heavy wallets. Others found the notion ludicrous. Finally, when the newspaper stories stopped and the snickers ceased, Robinson enlisted the aid of the one man he knew could carry the torch-the respected U.S. Senator Peter Norbeck. | |||
| Historian ] conceived the idea for Mount Rushmore in 1923 to promote ] in South Dakota. In 1924, Robinson persuaded sculptor ] to travel to the Black Hills region to ensure that the carving could be accomplished. Borglum had been involved in sculpting a massive ] memorial to ] leaders on ] in ] but was in disagreement with the officials there.<ref name=KAHS>Keystone Area Historical Society , '''', PBS (accessed ] ]).</ref> The original plan was to perform the carvings in ] pillars known as the ]. However, Borglum realized that that plan was impossible because the eroded Needles were too thin to support sculpting. He chose Mount Rushmore, a grander spot, partly because it faced southeast and enjoyed maximum exposure to the sun. Borglum said upon seeing Mount Rushmore, ''"America will march along that skyline."''<ref name=NPS> (] ]). National Park Service.</ref> ] authorized the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Commission on ] ].<ref name=NPS> (] ]). ].</ref> President Coolidge insisted that along with Washington, two Republicans and one Democrat be portrayed.<ref name=Fite>Fite, Gilbert C. ''Mount Rushmore'' (May 2003). ISBN 0-9646798-5-X, the standard scholarly study.</ref> | |||
| Norbeck, a frequent visitor at the White House, had the admiration of his peers in the Senate as well as that of the farmers and ranchers of South Dakota who had sent him to Washington. Robinson's mountain-carving proposal captured the senior senator's imagination and he encouraged the historian to seek a sculptor capable of commanding such a project. | |||
| Between ], ] and ], ], Gutzon Borglum and 400 workers sculpted the colossal 60-foot (18 m) carvings of ] ], ], ], and ] to represent the first 150 years of American history. These presidents were selected by Borglum because of their role in preserving the Republic and expanding its territory.<ref name=NPS> (] ]). National Park Service.</ref><ref name=Boime>Albert Boime, "Patriarchy Fixed in Stone: Gutzon Borglum's 'Mount Rushmore'," ''American Art'', Vol. 5, No. 1/2. (Winter - Spring, 1991), pp. 142–67.</ref> The image of Thomas Jefferson was originally intended to appear in the area at Washington's right, but after the work there was begun, the rock was found unsuitable, so this figure was moved to Washington's left. | |||
| Sculptor Gutzon Borglum, one of America's most prolific artists, received a letter from Robinson proposing the project in August 1924. It couldn't have come at a more opportune moment; he was fed up with the project he was working on. Borglum, a fiery and stubborn artist, lived for visions, not setbacks. He accepted Robinson's offer. | |||
| In 1933, the National Park Service took Mount Rushmore under its jurisdiction. Engineer ] helped with the project by improving its infrastructure. For example, he had the tram upgraded so that it could reach the top of Mount Rushmore for the ease of workers. By ] ], Washington's face had been completed and was dedicated. The face of Thomas Jefferson was dedicated in 1936, and the face of Abraham Lincoln was dedicated on ], ]. In 1937, a bill was introduced in Congress to add the head of civil-rights leader ], but a ] was passed on an appropriations bill requiring that federal funds be used to finish only those heads that had already been started at that time.<ref name=timeline> "Timeline: Mount Rushmore" (2002). URL accessed on ], ].</ref> In 1939, the face of Theodore Roosevelt was dedicated. | |||
| A student of the great French artist Auguste Rodin, Borglum was one of America's most successful artists before he even considered Mount Rushmore. His Mares of Diomedes was the first work by an American artist ever purchased by new York's Meropolitan Museum of Art. Back to Top | |||
| ] | |||
| The Sculptor's Studio—a display of unique plaster models and tools related to the sculpting—was built in 1939 under the direction of Borglum. Borglum died from an ] in March 1941. His son, ], continued the project. Originally, it was planned that the figures would be carved from head to waist,<ref>. </ref> but insufficient funding forced the carving to end.<ref name=NPS> (] ]). National Park Service.</ref> Borglum had also planned a massive panel in the shape of the ] commemorating in eight-foot-tall gilded letters the ], ], Louisiana Purchase, and seven other territorial acquisitions from ] to ] to the ].<ref name=Boime>Albert Boime, "Patriarchy Fixed in Stone: Gutzon Borglum's 'Mount Rushmore'," ''American Art'', Vol. 5, No. 1/2. (Winter - Spring, 1991), pp. 142–67.</ref> | |||
| The entire project cost USD]989,992.32.<ref name=SDTourism>. Tourism in South Dakota. Laura R. Ahmann. URL accessed on ] ].</ref> Notably for a project of such size, no workers died during the carving.<ref>. Outdoorplaces.com. URL accessed on ] ].</ref><!--this information belongs in the lead; creates too stubby a para in the body--> | |||
| Mixed Signals | |||
| On ] ], Mount Rushmore was listed on the ]. An essay from ] student William Andrew Burkett, selected as the winner for the college-age group in 1934, was placed on the Entablature on a bronze plate in 1973.<ref name=timeline>See above</ref> In 1991, President ] officially dedicated Mount Rushmore. | |||
| Upon his arrival in September 1924, the flamboyant Borglum politely but forcefully informed Robinson and Norbeck that his life's work would not be spent immortalizing regional heroes. The sculptor insisted that the work demanded a subject national in nature and timeless in its relevance to history. | |||
| In a canyon behind the carved faces is a chamber, cut only {{convert|70|ft|m|0}} into the rock, containing a vault with sixteen porcelain enamel panels. The panels include the text of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, biographies of the four presidents and Borglum, and the history of the U.S. The chamber was created as the entrance way to a planned "Hall of Records"; the vault was installed in 1998. <ref>{{cite web | |||
| | title =Hall of Records | |||
| | work =Mount Rushmore National Memorial web site | |||
| | publisher =National Park Service | |||
| | date =2004-06-14 | |||
| | url =http://www.nps.gov/archive/moru/park_history/carving_hist/hall_of_records.htm | |||
| | accessdate =2007-07-04 }}</ref> | |||
| By selecting four great presidential figures for the carving, the trio sought to create an eternal reminder of the birth, growth, preservation and development of a nation dedicated to democracy and the pursuit of individual liberty. | |||
| Ten years of redevelopment work culminated with the completion of extensive visitor facilities and sidewalks in 1998, such as a Visitor Center, Museum, and the Presidential Trail. Maintenance of the memorial annually requires mountain climbers to monitor and seal cracks. The memorial is not cleaned to remove ]. It has been cleaned only once. On ] ], ] GmbH, a German manufacturer of cleaning machines, conducted a free cleanup operation; the washing used pressurized water at over 200 ] (95 ]).<ref> (] ]). CNN via Google cache. URL accessed on ] ].</ref> | |||
| Borglum soon embarked on a site-searching trip to find a grouping of rocks massive enough to support a giant sculpture. He examined the Needles, as Robinson suggested, but found the rock too brittle for carving and the spires disproportionate to the human form. Next, Borglum and his party climbed Harney Peak. At 7,242 feet, this is the highest point between the Rockies and the Swiss Alps. The surrounding vista inspired him. | |||
| == Controversy == | |||
| ] flying over Mt. Rushmore]] | |||
| Mount Rushmore is controversial among ]s because the United States seized the area from the ] tribe after the ] in 1876–77. The ] from 1868 had previously granted the Black Hills to the Lakota in perpetuity. The Lakota consider the hills to be sacred, although historians believe the Lakota also gained control of the hills by force, displacing the ] in 1776. Members of the ] led an ] of the monument in 1971, naming it "Mount Crazy Horse." Among the participants were young activists, grandparents, children and Lakota holy man John Fire ], who planted a prayer staff atop the mountain. Lame Deer said the staff formed a symbolic shroud over the presidents' faces "which shall remain dirty until the treaties concerning the Black Hills are fulfilled."<ref name=Glass>Matthew Glass, "Producing Patriotic Inspiration at Mount Rushmore," ''Journal of the American Academy of Religion'', Vol. 62, No. 2. (Summer, 1994), pp. 265–283.</ref> | |||
| "Here is the place!" Borglum exhorted. "American history shall march along that skyline." | |||
| The Monument remains controversial among Native Americans, even after the appointment of Gerard Baker, the first Native American superintendent of the park, in 2004.<ref name=Native>, Indian Country Today. Accessed on ] ] </ref> The ] is being constructed elsewhere in the Black Hills to commemorate a famous Native American leader and as a response to Mount Rushmore. It is intended to be larger than Mount Rushmore and has the support of Lakota chiefs; the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation has rejected offers of ] funds. However, this memorial is likewise the subject of controversy, especially within the Native American community. | |||
| He set his sights on the craggy, pine-clad cliff known as Mount Rushmore, near the isolated mining town of Keystone. It had southeastern exposure, giving it direct sunlight most of the day, and was made of sound granite relatively free from fracture. Borglum carefully explored the crevices and sampled the rock of Mount Rushmore. With each test, he reconfirmed that he had found his mountain. Back to Top | |||
| ==Racist Links== | |||
| The Monument also holds controversy in the alleged idea of an underlying theme of racial superiority legitimized by the idea of ]. The mountains have been carved with Borglum's choice of four presidents active during the time of the acquisition of Indian land. Gutzon Borglum himself holds much controversy as he was an active member of the ]. <ref name=Native>, PBS. Accessed on ] ] </ref> | |||
| ==Ecology== | |||
| ] opposite Mount Rushmore]] | |||
| The flora and fauna of Mount Rushmore are similar to those of the rest of the Black Hills region of South Dakota. Birds including the ], ], ], and ] fly around Mount Rushmore, occasionally making ] in the ledges of the mountain. Smaller birds, including songbirds, ]es, and ]s, inhabit the surrounding pine forests. Terrestrial mammals include the ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ]. In addition, several species of ]s and ]s inhabit the region. The two brooks in the memorial, the Grizzly Bear and Starling Basin brooks, support fish such as the ] and the ].<ref name=animal> National Park Service. URL accessed on ] ].</ref> Some endemic animals are not indigenous to the area; the ]s are descended from goats which were a gift from ] to ] in 1924 but later escaped.<ref name=FloraFauna>. American Park Network. URL accessed on ] ].</ref> | |||
| The Waiting Game | |||
| At lower elevations, ] trees, mainly the ], surround most of the monument, providing shade from the sun. Other trees include the ], the ], and the ]. Nine species of shrubs live near Mount Rushmore. There is also a wide variety of wildflowers, including especially the ], ], and ]. Towards higher elevations, plant life becomes sparser.<ref name=FloraFauna>. ]. URL accessed on ] ].</ref> However, only approximately 5% of the plant species found in the Black Hills are indigenous to the region.<ref>. National Park Service. URL accessed on ] ].</ref> | |||
| Senator Norbeck and Congressman William Williamson easily secured federal legislation to allow a mountain carving in Harney National Forest. A similar bill in the state Legislature was passed in 1925. | |||
| Though the area receives about 18 inches (460 mm) of precipitation on average per year, alone it is not enough to support the abundant animal and plant life. Trees and other plants help to control ]. Dikes, seeps, and springs help to dam up water that is flowing downhill, providing watering spots for animals. In addition, stones like ] and ] help to hold ], creating ]s.<ref>. National Park Service. URL accessed on ] ].</ref> | |||
| But months passed as supporters of the Rushmore project scrambled for funding. Environmentalists suggested the project would deface the mountainside. Others asked how a mortal sculptor could hope to improve on what a higher authority had already designed. As the calendars changed to 1926, most South Dakotans dismissed the whole fanciful conception. Back to Top | |||
| ]s occur in the Ponderosa forests surrounding Mount Rushmore around every 27 years. This was determined from fire scars in tree core samples. These help to clean forest debris located on the ground. Large conflagrations are rare, but have occurred in the past.<ref>. National Park Service. URL accessed on ] ].</ref> | |||
| ==Geology== | |||
| ] of debris from construction.]] | |||
| Mount Rushmore is largely composed of ]. The memorial is carved on the northwest margin of the ] granite ] in the Black Hills of South Dakota, so the geologic formations of the heart of the Black Hills region are also evident at Mount Rushmore. The batholith ] intruded into the pre-existing ] ] rocks during the ] period about 1.6 billion years ago.<ref name=NPSgeology>. National Park Service.</ref> However, the uneven cooling of the molten rock caused the formation of both fine and coarse-grained minerals, including ], ], ], and ]. Fractures in the granite were sealed by ] ]. The light-colored streaks in the presidents' foreheads are due to these dikes. | |||
| Presidential Attention | |||
| The Black Hills granites were exposed to ] during the late Precambrian, but were buried by ]s and other sediments during the ] Period. The area remained buried throughout the ] Era, but was exposed again to erosion during the ] uplift about 70 million years ago.<ref name=NPSgeology>. National Park Service.</ref> The Black Hills area was uplifted as an elongated geologic dome which towered some 20,000 feet (6 km) above sea level, but erosion wore the area down to only 4,000 feet (1.2 km).<ref>Irvin, James R. (2001). URL accessed on ] ].</ref> The subsequent natural erosion of this mountain range allowed the carvings by stripping the granite of the overlying sediments and the softer adjacent schists. The contact between the granite and darker schist is viewable just below the sculpture of Washington. | |||
| Then, in the spring of 1927, President Calvin Coolidge decided to spend his three-week summer holiday in the Black Hills. | |||
| Borglum selected Mount Rushmore as the site for several reasons. The rock of the mountain is composed of smooth, fine-grained granite. The durable granite erodes only 1 inch (2.5 cm) every 10,000 years, indicating that it was sturdy enough to support sculpting.<ref name=NPS> (] ]). National Park Service.</ref> In addition, it was the tallest mountain in the region, looming to a height of 5,725 feet (1,745 m) above sea level.<ref name=peakbagger> (] ]). Peakbagger.com. URL accessed on ] ].</ref> Because the mountain faces the southeast, the workers also had the advantage of sunlight for most of the day. | |||
| State officials immediately began preparing for the visit by remodeling the rustic State Game Lodge in Custer State Park, which was selected to be Coolidge's "summer White House." | |||
| ==Tourism== | |||
| ] | |||
| Tourism is South Dakota's second-largest industry, with Mount Rushmore being its number one tourist attraction. In 2004, over 2 million visitors traveled to the memorial.<ref name=NPSfacts>, National Park Service.</ref> The Site is also home to the final concerts of Rushmore Music Camp and attracts many visitors over the week of the ]. | |||
| On June 15, Senator Norbeck and 10,000 South Dakotans warmly greeted President and Mrs. Coolidge, their two dogs and the First Lady's pet raccoon, as they stepped from the train in Rapid City. They were soon settled comfortably into the Game Lodge and the Dakotan way of life. Their three-week visit turned into a three-month stay. | |||
| Coolidge couldn't have known that his fishing skills were greatly enhanced by park officials. Before the president's arrival, chicken wire was stretched across the creek upstream and downstream from the president's quarters. Lunker trout from a nearby fish hatchery were trucked in nightly - so many that Coolidge couldn't help but fill his creel as he "learned to fish." | |||
| The Lincoln Borglum Museum is located in the memorial. It features two 125-seat theaters that show a 13-minute movie about Mount Rushmore. One of the best viewpoints is located at Grandview Terrace, above the Museum. The Presidential Trail, a walking trail and boardwalk, starts at Grandview Terrace and winds through the ] forests to the Sculptor's Studio, providing close-up views of the memorial. The Sculptor's studio was built by ], and features discussion about the construction of the monument as well as the tools used. The amphitheater also has a 30-minute program at dusk that describes the construction of the memorial. Following that, the mountain is illuminated for two hours.<ref> American Park Network. URL accessed on ], ].</ref> | |||
| This extended vacation allowed Borglum and Norbeck enough time to convince Coolidge to participate in the formal dedication of Mount Rushmore. On August 10, the president rode horseback to the mountain, sporting cowboy boots and a 10-gallon hat given to him by local residents. | |||
| ==Appearances in popular culture== | |||
| ]]] | |||
| <!---BEFORE adding to this section, please read "Appearances section" on the article discussion page. Your contribution may be removed if it doesn't link to an article or photo that mentions Mount Rushmore, among other criteria. Also, DO NOT use a list format for this section. --> | |||
| "We have come here to dedicate a cornerstone laid by the hand of the Almighty," Coolidge told a crowd of 1,000 South Dakotans. In an impassioned speech by a man not known for his passion, Coolidge became the first to refer to Mount Rushmore as a "national shrine," then pledged federal support for the project. | |||
| Because it has large carved faces, appearances of Mount Rushmore in the media often include a replacement of one or more of the four presidents' faces with other people or characters. In '']'', General Zod and his criminal partners use their superpowers to replace three of the carvings with their own faces and wipe out the fourth. Similarly, in '']'', the ]s in a ] carve their faces into Mount Rushmore, replacing the Presidents' heads. ]'s album '']'' has a cover inspired by Mount Rushmore depicting the five members' faces instead of the four presidents. The cover of ]' album, '']'', depicts Roosevelt replaced by ]. In the '']'' novel '']'', ] finds Mount Rushmore half-buried underneath garbage, which causes him to realize he is back on Earth. The mountain has had a fifth face carved into it, that of fictional president ]. In the popular ] and ] series '']'', a similar monument inspired by Mount Rushmore is shown, depicting the first four, later five, '']'', or leaders, of ]. In the ] comics, ] is shown as going to Mount Rushmore to seek solitude on at least one occasion. | |||
| After listening with satisfaction to the president's remarks, the 60-year-old Borglum climbed to the mountain's craggy summit and symbolically drilled six holes to mark the commencement of carving. The Mount Rushmore dream would embrace the remaining 14 years of his life and leave a monument unlike any other. Back to Top | |||
| Beginning in 1975, Mount Rushmore has been referenced, featured and spoofed by ] on ]. It is featured, amongst others, in '']'' as the Team America headquarters. | |||
| The memorial was famously used as the location of the climactic chase scene in ]'s ] '']'', which incorrectly depicted a forested plateau and the villain's house atop the monument. However, the scene was not actually filmed at the monument, since permission to shoot an attempted killing on the face of a national monument was refused by the Park Service. Close-ups were shot on a set. | |||
| Men and Mountain | |||
| The ] baseball club uses large foam rubber depictions of the "Rushmore Four" in both their marketing campaigns & in a series of in-stadium promotions, which include the . George, Abe, TJ and Teddy appear in the fourth inning of home games at RFK Stadium. That tradition will continue at the new Nationals Park. To date, the Teddy character has never won a Racing Presidents event, causing Nationals fans to chant his name in the hope that the race they view will be Teddy's first win.<!--- | |||
| At first, it was just a job, a way to put food on the table. But, as the four faces emerged from the granite, the men who helped carve the memorial began to share the sculptor's dream. These drill-dusty, unemployed miners, who had originally sought only a paycheck in the heart of the Great Depression, became caught up in a challenge that would produce a national treasure. | |||
| BEFORE adding to this section, please read "Appearances section" on the article discussion page. Your contribution may be removed if it doesn't link to an article or photo that mentions Mount Rushmore, among other criteria.--> | |||
| In the six-and-a-half years of work that occurred on and off between 1927 and 1941, Borglum employed almost 400 local workers. Some built roads, ran the hoist house, generated power or sharpened thousands of bits for the pneumatic drills. Others set dynamite charges or completed delicate finishing work on the sculpture. | |||
| ==Notes and references== | |||
| {{reflist|2}} | |||
| Among the most highly skilled workers were those using dynamite. Using techniques he had developed at Stone Mountain and relying on skills his crew had acquired in mining, Borglum used the explosive in an innovative way that helped to remove large amounts of rock quickly and relatively inexpensively. His powdermen became so skilled that they could blast to within four inches of the finished surface and grade the contours of the lips, nose, cheeks, neck and brow. In fact, 90 percent of the 450,000 tons of granite removed from the mountain were taken out with dynamite. Back to Top | |||
| ==Further reading== | |||
| *''The National Parks: Index 2001–2003''. Washington: ]. | |||
| *Taliaferro, John. ''Great White Fathers: The Story of the Obsessive Quest to Create Mount Rushmore''. New York: PublicAffairs, c2002. Puts the creation of the monument into a historical and cultural context. | |||
| *Larner, Jesse (]). ''Mount Rushmore: An Icon Reconsidered'' New York: Nation Books, 2002. | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| {{commonscat|Mount Rushmore National Memorial}} | |||
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| *Matthew Buckingham, | |||
| * | |||
| The Four Faces | |||
| {{Registered Historic Places}} | |||
| George Washington | |||
| {{featured article}} | |||
| As "father of our country" and the nation's first president, George Washington earned his place as the foremost figure in the presidential portrait. Born in 1732 in Virginia, as a youth he surveyed what was then considered the western wilderness, the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. At only 23 years of age, he commanded the Virginia militia, then served as a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses. He was a justice of the peace and then commander-in-chief of the Continental Army before assuming his most illustrious role as the first president of the United States. | |||
| Washington is remembered for helping the nation achieve its independence from England and for ensuring that Americans have a representative form of government. Before sculpting his own vision of Washington, Borglum studied portraits by Rembrant Peale and Gilbert Stewart, as well as a life-mask by French artist Antoine Houdon. | |||
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| Thomas Jefferson | |||
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| Born in 1743 to Virginia planters, Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence at age 33, giving the nation a plan for sovereignty and freedom. Jefferson also served as governor of his native state, as minister to France and as secretary of state for four years under President Washington. From 1801 to 1809, he served two successful terms as the nation's third president. | |||
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| Jefferson was ultimately included by Borglum because of his vision of an America that spanned from coast to coast. His unprecedented purchase of the vast Louisiana Territory, which more than doubled the size of the young nation, brought this dream closer to reality. | |||
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| Borglum chose to render Jefferson as a young man, using the life mask created by American artist John H. I. Browere as his model. As depicted on Mount Rushmore, Jefferson is looking to the heavens, emphasizing his reputation as a visionary and philosopher. | |||
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| Abraham Lincoln | |||
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| "The Great Emancipator," Abraham Lincoln, was born to impoverished parents in Kentucky's backwoods in 1809. Lincoln taught himself law, served in the Illinois Legislature, then gained a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1858, he challenged Senator Stephen Douglas and - through wit, wisdom and a series of historic debates - won the admiration of the American people, though he lost the election. | |||
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| Elected president in 1860, Lincoln oversaw one of the most pivotal periods in American history, the Civil War. Through steadfast devotion to the nation, he successfully preserved the Union. | |||
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| Lincoln was Borglum's favorite leader. In fact, the sculptor named his only son for the 16th president. After studying photographs and a life-mask of Lincoln, Borglum chose to portray him with the beard and the determined look he wore during his tenure in office. | |||
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| Theodore Roosevelt | |||
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| The only presidential selection to draw any measure of criticism was that of Theodore Roosevelt, the nation's 26th president. | |||
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| Some academics argued that history had not yet judged the Roosevelt presidency (he had been dead only eight years). But Borglum believed Roosevelt's vision of America's role in the world community qualified him for the fourth place on the mountain. Roosevelt had realized the dream of Christopher Columbus by completing the Panama Canal and connecting the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. | |||
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| More significantly, Borglum identified with "T. R.'s" energy and charisma, and saw him as the epitome of the American spirit. Borglum sculpted Roosevelt from memory, as he and "Teddy" were close friends and confidants before, during and after Roosevelt's presidency. Back to Top | |||
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| Model to Masterpiece | |||
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| Borglum created a model of the four presidents on a one-to-12-inch scale, meaning an inch on the model represented a foot on the cliff. This model has been preserved for viewing at the Sculptor's Studio. To transfer measurements from the model to the mountain, workers determined where the top of the head would be, then found the corresponding point on the model. A protractor was mounted horizontally on top of the model's head. A similar, albeit 12 times larger, apparatus was placed on the mountain. By substituting feet for inches, workers quickly determined the amount of rock to remove. | |||
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| Next, drillers used the same measuring system and air-powered tools to drill closely spaced holes to exacting depths, a process known as "honeycombing." The rock between these holes was then broken away using chisels and hammers. The final process, known as "bumping," used a pneumatic drill and a special bit to leave the finished surface as smooth as a concrete sidewalk. | |||
| ] | |||
| A skilled driller could make $1.25 per hour on the project which was better than the mines were paying. But Borglum's crew often had to endure extended layoffs due to a lack of funds and harsh winter weather. When spring or more funding came again, the workers would report back to the mountain, eager to get back to work on their adopted cause. | |||
| As his dream neared its completion, Borglum's biggest fear was leaving a mystery for future generations. In 1938, Borglum began carving a giant vault in the can-yon wall directly behind Mount Rushmore. Into this great hall, he planned to place records of the memorial, of Western civilization, of individual liberty and freedom. But Borglum's death and the country's entry into World War II intervened, and the Hall of Records was left unfinished. (In 1998, the National Park Service completed a scaled down version of the hall.) | |||
| After Borglum's death, his son, Lincoln, spent another seven months refining the monument. On October 31, 1941, he stopped construction on the sculpture, leaving Mount Rushmore as we know it today: a truly American icon. | |||
| Mount Rushmore represents the largest work of art on earth. Each face is 60 feet high, compared to the head on the Statue of Liberty, which is only 17 feet tall. | |||
| Amazingly, there were no deaths and only a couple of injuries during the entire period of carving at Mount Rushmore. This is a remarkable safety record considering the workers regularly used dynamite and heavy equipment. | |||
Revision as of 23:38, 29 November 2007
THE MAKING OF RUSHMORE Introduction Mount Rushmore National Memorial is as much a product of dreams and determination as it is the work of a talented sculptor. Back to Top
The Father of Rushmore
In 1923, Doane Robinson, the aging superintendent of the South Dakota State Historical Society, had a vision of a massive mountain memorial carved from stone so large it would put South Dakota on the map. Robinson told all who would listen of his dream of giant statues of Western figures such as General George Armstrong Custer, Buffalo Bill Cody, Lewis and Clark, and legendary Sioux warriors marching along South Dakota's skyline. Robinson spoke to local organizations and wrote letter upon letter.
Many South Dakotans believed that a colossal sculpture would attract thousands of visitors with heavy wallets. Others found the notion ludicrous. Finally, when the newspaper stories stopped and the snickers ceased, Robinson enlisted the aid of the one man he knew could carry the torch-the respected U.S. Senator Peter Norbeck.
Norbeck, a frequent visitor at the White House, had the admiration of his peers in the Senate as well as that of the farmers and ranchers of South Dakota who had sent him to Washington. Robinson's mountain-carving proposal captured the senior senator's imagination and he encouraged the historian to seek a sculptor capable of commanding such a project.
Sculptor Gutzon Borglum, one of America's most prolific artists, received a letter from Robinson proposing the project in August 1924. It couldn't have come at a more opportune moment; he was fed up with the project he was working on. Borglum, a fiery and stubborn artist, lived for visions, not setbacks. He accepted Robinson's offer.
A student of the great French artist Auguste Rodin, Borglum was one of America's most successful artists before he even considered Mount Rushmore. His Mares of Diomedes was the first work by an American artist ever purchased by new York's Meropolitan Museum of Art. Back to Top
Mixed Signals
Upon his arrival in September 1924, the flamboyant Borglum politely but forcefully informed Robinson and Norbeck that his life's work would not be spent immortalizing regional heroes. The sculptor insisted that the work demanded a subject national in nature and timeless in its relevance to history.
By selecting four great presidential figures for the carving, the trio sought to create an eternal reminder of the birth, growth, preservation and development of a nation dedicated to democracy and the pursuit of individual liberty.
Borglum soon embarked on a site-searching trip to find a grouping of rocks massive enough to support a giant sculpture. He examined the Needles, as Robinson suggested, but found the rock too brittle for carving and the spires disproportionate to the human form. Next, Borglum and his party climbed Harney Peak. At 7,242 feet, this is the highest point between the Rockies and the Swiss Alps. The surrounding vista inspired him.
"Here is the place!" Borglum exhorted. "American history shall march along that skyline."
He set his sights on the craggy, pine-clad cliff known as Mount Rushmore, near the isolated mining town of Keystone. It had southeastern exposure, giving it direct sunlight most of the day, and was made of sound granite relatively free from fracture. Borglum carefully explored the crevices and sampled the rock of Mount Rushmore. With each test, he reconfirmed that he had found his mountain. Back to Top
The Waiting Game
Senator Norbeck and Congressman William Williamson easily secured federal legislation to allow a mountain carving in Harney National Forest. A similar bill in the state Legislature was passed in 1925.
But months passed as supporters of the Rushmore project scrambled for funding. Environmentalists suggested the project would deface the mountainside. Others asked how a mortal sculptor could hope to improve on what a higher authority had already designed. As the calendars changed to 1926, most South Dakotans dismissed the whole fanciful conception. Back to Top
Presidential Attention
Then, in the spring of 1927, President Calvin Coolidge decided to spend his three-week summer holiday in the Black Hills.
State officials immediately began preparing for the visit by remodeling the rustic State Game Lodge in Custer State Park, which was selected to be Coolidge's "summer White House."
On June 15, Senator Norbeck and 10,000 South Dakotans warmly greeted President and Mrs. Coolidge, their two dogs and the First Lady's pet raccoon, as they stepped from the train in Rapid City. They were soon settled comfortably into the Game Lodge and the Dakotan way of life. Their three-week visit turned into a three-month stay.
Coolidge couldn't have known that his fishing skills were greatly enhanced by park officials. Before the president's arrival, chicken wire was stretched across the creek upstream and downstream from the president's quarters. Lunker trout from a nearby fish hatchery were trucked in nightly - so many that Coolidge couldn't help but fill his creel as he "learned to fish."
This extended vacation allowed Borglum and Norbeck enough time to convince Coolidge to participate in the formal dedication of Mount Rushmore. On August 10, the president rode horseback to the mountain, sporting cowboy boots and a 10-gallon hat given to him by local residents.
"We have come here to dedicate a cornerstone laid by the hand of the Almighty," Coolidge told a crowd of 1,000 South Dakotans. In an impassioned speech by a man not known for his passion, Coolidge became the first to refer to Mount Rushmore as a "national shrine," then pledged federal support for the project.
After listening with satisfaction to the president's remarks, the 60-year-old Borglum climbed to the mountain's craggy summit and symbolically drilled six holes to mark the commencement of carving. The Mount Rushmore dream would embrace the remaining 14 years of his life and leave a monument unlike any other. Back to Top
Men and Mountain
At first, it was just a job, a way to put food on the table. But, as the four faces emerged from the granite, the men who helped carve the memorial began to share the sculptor's dream. These drill-dusty, unemployed miners, who had originally sought only a paycheck in the heart of the Great Depression, became caught up in a challenge that would produce a national treasure.
In the six-and-a-half years of work that occurred on and off between 1927 and 1941, Borglum employed almost 400 local workers. Some built roads, ran the hoist house, generated power or sharpened thousands of bits for the pneumatic drills. Others set dynamite charges or completed delicate finishing work on the sculpture.
Among the most highly skilled workers were those using dynamite. Using techniques he had developed at Stone Mountain and relying on skills his crew had acquired in mining, Borglum used the explosive in an innovative way that helped to remove large amounts of rock quickly and relatively inexpensively. His powdermen became so skilled that they could blast to within four inches of the finished surface and grade the contours of the lips, nose, cheeks, neck and brow. In fact, 90 percent of the 450,000 tons of granite removed from the mountain were taken out with dynamite. Back to Top
The Four Faces
George Washington As "father of our country" and the nation's first president, George Washington earned his place as the foremost figure in the presidential portrait. Born in 1732 in Virginia, as a youth he surveyed what was then considered the western wilderness, the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. At only 23 years of age, he commanded the Virginia militia, then served as a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses. He was a justice of the peace and then commander-in-chief of the Continental Army before assuming his most illustrious role as the first president of the United States.
Washington is remembered for helping the nation achieve its independence from England and for ensuring that Americans have a representative form of government. Before sculpting his own vision of Washington, Borglum studied portraits by Rembrant Peale and Gilbert Stewart, as well as a life-mask by French artist Antoine Houdon.
Thomas Jefferson Born in 1743 to Virginia planters, Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence at age 33, giving the nation a plan for sovereignty and freedom. Jefferson also served as governor of his native state, as minister to France and as secretary of state for four years under President Washington. From 1801 to 1809, he served two successful terms as the nation's third president.
Jefferson was ultimately included by Borglum because of his vision of an America that spanned from coast to coast. His unprecedented purchase of the vast Louisiana Territory, which more than doubled the size of the young nation, brought this dream closer to reality.
Borglum chose to render Jefferson as a young man, using the life mask created by American artist John H. I. Browere as his model. As depicted on Mount Rushmore, Jefferson is looking to the heavens, emphasizing his reputation as a visionary and philosopher.
Abraham Lincoln "The Great Emancipator," Abraham Lincoln, was born to impoverished parents in Kentucky's backwoods in 1809. Lincoln taught himself law, served in the Illinois Legislature, then gained a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1858, he challenged Senator Stephen Douglas and - through wit, wisdom and a series of historic debates - won the admiration of the American people, though he lost the election.
Elected president in 1860, Lincoln oversaw one of the most pivotal periods in American history, the Civil War. Through steadfast devotion to the nation, he successfully preserved the Union.
Lincoln was Borglum's favorite leader. In fact, the sculptor named his only son for the 16th president. After studying photographs and a life-mask of Lincoln, Borglum chose to portray him with the beard and the determined look he wore during his tenure in office.
Theodore Roosevelt The only presidential selection to draw any measure of criticism was that of Theodore Roosevelt, the nation's 26th president.
Some academics argued that history had not yet judged the Roosevelt presidency (he had been dead only eight years). But Borglum believed Roosevelt's vision of America's role in the world community qualified him for the fourth place on the mountain. Roosevelt had realized the dream of Christopher Columbus by completing the Panama Canal and connecting the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
More significantly, Borglum identified with "T. R.'s" energy and charisma, and saw him as the epitome of the American spirit. Borglum sculpted Roosevelt from memory, as he and "Teddy" were close friends and confidants before, during and after Roosevelt's presidency. Back to Top
Model to Masterpiece
Borglum created a model of the four presidents on a one-to-12-inch scale, meaning an inch on the model represented a foot on the cliff. This model has been preserved for viewing at the Sculptor's Studio. To transfer measurements from the model to the mountain, workers determined where the top of the head would be, then found the corresponding point on the model. A protractor was mounted horizontally on top of the model's head. A similar, albeit 12 times larger, apparatus was placed on the mountain. By substituting feet for inches, workers quickly determined the amount of rock to remove.
Next, drillers used the same measuring system and air-powered tools to drill closely spaced holes to exacting depths, a process known as "honeycombing." The rock between these holes was then broken away using chisels and hammers. The final process, known as "bumping," used a pneumatic drill and a special bit to leave the finished surface as smooth as a concrete sidewalk.
A skilled driller could make $1.25 per hour on the project which was better than the mines were paying. But Borglum's crew often had to endure extended layoffs due to a lack of funds and harsh winter weather. When spring or more funding came again, the workers would report back to the mountain, eager to get back to work on their adopted cause.
As his dream neared its completion, Borglum's biggest fear was leaving a mystery for future generations. In 1938, Borglum began carving a giant vault in the can-yon wall directly behind Mount Rushmore. Into this great hall, he planned to place records of the memorial, of Western civilization, of individual liberty and freedom. But Borglum's death and the country's entry into World War II intervened, and the Hall of Records was left unfinished. (In 1998, the National Park Service completed a scaled down version of the hall.)
After Borglum's death, his son, Lincoln, spent another seven months refining the monument. On October 31, 1941, he stopped construction on the sculpture, leaving Mount Rushmore as we know it today: a truly American icon.
Mount Rushmore represents the largest work of art on earth. Each face is 60 feet high, compared to the head on the Statue of Liberty, which is only 17 feet tall.
Amazingly, there were no deaths and only a couple of injuries during the entire period of carving at Mount Rushmore. This is a remarkable safety record considering the workers regularly used dynamite and heavy equipment.