Mount Rushmore Presidents - The Black Hills
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Mount Rushmore Presidents
Published by blackhills On April 9, 2014
Mount Rushmore is an iconic mountain in South Dakota.
There is no doubt that you have heard of the infamous mountain and seen several images of it, but it is breathtaking in real life.
Whether it is your first time visiting the mountain, or if you a repeat tourist, it will offer a unique experience with new memories to add to your life.
So what exactly is Mount Rushmore?
Mount Rushmore is a National Monument of four presidents’ faces that are carved into the granite mountain name Rushmore. The famous presidents you will see are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.
History Behind the Mountain
The mountain was thought up by Doane Robinson and carved by Guton Borglum and his son Lincoln with the intent to drive tourism into the city located far from any oceans. The whole memorial covers 1,278.45 acres , which is impressive considering the clarity of the faces from the distance of the observation area. In picking the mountain to use, Mount Rushmore was eventually chosen because of its granite material and the incredible sun exposure because it faces the southeast. Robinson and Borglum disagreed on what the monument would consist of but decided national faces would be a great memorial for the country as a whole.
The entire idea was intended to be from the waist up and was started in 1927. However Guton passed away in 1941 leaving his son to finish the project. Funding had dried up and the monument sculpting had to conclude almost 7 months after Guton’s death. Even with only half the idea completed the monument became a huge success and today attracts nearly three million people a year.
The Four Famous Faces
These four faces were not chosen at random, they each were specifically picked because of something specific that they did to influence our country.
George Washington (1732-1799), led the colonists in the American Revolutionary War winning independence from Great Britain. He laid the foundation of our modern day democracy. He often thought to be the most important face in the mountain.
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), authored the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of Independence has become such an integral part of the American culture that every citizen knows what it is and likely knows a line from it. It also inspired several countries around the world the reform their democracy.
Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919), was an incredible President who was able to see potential growth in our country and account for it. With rapid growth in the Americas, he was able to lead the country, negotiate for expanded territory, and keep the country looking to a strong and stable future.
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), was instrumental during his leadership through the Civil War. He preserved the union and held fast to the idea of freedom for all regardless of race. His leadership laid the foundation for the belief system we have today giving everyone equal rights and freedoms.
If you haven’t visited Mount Rushmore it should be on your bucket list, and if you have you will want to come back and make new life long memories.