Mount Rushmore IIlutionaZ llIIlemoricu SOUTH DAKOTA United States as an independent Na­ lution, Washington continued to be structures and the molding of the political in heroic figures commemorative of our Mount Rushmore tion devoted to principles of represent­ the national leader. He led the move­ forms of the Republic. The most notable national history and progress upon a suit­ ative government. In him the move­ ment for a more efficient instrument of achievement of his two terms as President able exposure of the Harney Mountain NATIONAL MEMORIAL ment for liberty during the American government to supersede the Articles was the purchase of the vast Louisiana Range" within the Harney National For­ Revolution was incarnated. The mag­ of Confederation and presided over the territory. The "Louisiana Purchase" more est located in South Dakota. A subsequent United States Department of the Interior, J. A. Krug, Secretary netic qualities of his personal leader­ Constitutional Convention that drew than doubled the land area of the young act approved June 15,1938, authorized the National Park Service, Newton B. Drury, Director ship; the typical American piety that he up the Constitution of the United States Nation. It opened new fields of economic designation of not more than 1,500 acres exemplified in the darkest hours; his in 1787. As the first President of the opportunity for men of all classes and of land within the Harney National For­ Here, in lasting granite, carved in proportions symbolical of greatness and attest­ ing the gratitude and admiration of the people, are memorialized four giants skill as Commander in Chief of the United States, he successfully launched degrees of wealth, perpetuated for three- est immediately surrounding the Mount of American history: Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt. American armies; his personal integrity the new Nation on a sure and steady quarters of a century the constructive in­ Rushmore National Memorial to be re­ and firm devotion to the American course. A practical statesman, the fluences of the democratic frontier, and served for the purposes of the Memorial. At the Mount Rushmore National Me­ to civilization of the events commemo­ cause gave inspiration to the thirteen strongest feature in his character was guaranteed the physical greatness and This act was amended by the act of May American colonies and enabled them morial, in the Black Hills of South Da­ rated. The work is colossal because it was prudence. Action was not taken by him strength of the United States. 22,1940, increasing the number of acres to to obtain outside assistance and to tri­ kota, portraits have been sculptured by his purpose "to carve an epic." until every circumstance and consider­ Abraham Lincoln will forever rank 1,800. The administration of the Memo­ umph over the many obstacles that had Gutzon Borglum on the side of Mount Of the four great national heroes shown ation had been maturely weighed; but among the foremost of American Presi­ rial area was transferred to the National to be overcome before freedom was Rushmore to commemorate four out­ on the side of Mount Rushmore, George when decision had been reached he dents because he, more than any other one Park Service, United States Department achieved. In the period of peace follow­ carried out his purpose despite obsta­ standing contributors to American demo­ Washington stands out above all others man, preserved intact the United States of the Interior, on July 1,1939, pursuant ing the success of the American Revo- cles. The later reappraisals of historical cratic progress and national development. because he was the founding father of the when the Union was threatened with to the President's second plan of Gov­ scholarship have not dimmed his great­ The sculptured likenesses of Washington, dissolution in the dark days of the War ernment reorganization transmitted to George Washington Thomas Jefferson ness but have only added to his stature Theodore Roosevelt Abraham Lincoln Jefferson, Lincoln, and Theodore Roose­ between the States. It was due largely to Congress May 9,1939- as a national hero. He remains "first in velt constitute a national memorial, estab­ his wisdom and ability that the Nation cowboy, soldier, writer, explorer, hunter, door" and for the energetic protection of Gutzon Borglum, the noted sculptor, war, first in peace and first in the hearts lished by act of Congress and placed by had a new birth of freedom and that the and vigorous national executive, wielding American interests. His administration was selected to execute the carvings and of his countrymen." United States "Government of the people, order of the President under the adminis­ the "big stick" and insistent upon the saw the successful building of the Panama commenced the sculpturing of the moun­ by the people, and for the people" did not tration of the National Park Service. Each Thomas Jefferson, author of the Decla­ "square deal." He was equally at home in Canal which strengthened the naval pow­ tainside immediately after the dedication perish from the earth. He stands among portrait is carved out of solid granite and ration of Independence, by that act alone eastern drawing rooms or on the ranch, er of the United States, increased our of the Memorial by President Coolidge the immortals of American history be­ is about 60 feet in height from chin to would have been great; but he is included and was the archetype of the virile Amer­ interests and responsibilities in the Carib­ on August 10,1927. Control of disburse­ cause of his humane qualities and because forehead. The finishing of the Washing­ among the leviathans of American history ican of the first quarter of the nineteenth bean and in Central and South America, ments incident to the carving of the colos­ he typifies the inherent birthright of ton portrait as far as the shoulders adds to because he gave a new emphasis and im­ century when the United States was first and emphasized our growing influence in sal portraits in stone was at times under every United States citizen to rise from the the over-all dimensions, making the group petus to democracy in the United States. taking its place as a World Power. He was a changing world. Above all, his leader­ the respective jurisdiction of the Depart­ most humble circumstances to a position so representative of the ideals and aims of one of the largest undertakings of the Foe of all kinds of human tyranny, as ship brought about a quickened sense of ment of the Interior, and the Treasury evidenced by his authorship of the statute of the highest national honor and public the American people that his life remains kind ever attempted. It compares favor­ responsibility for the conservation of this Department, and to some extent the of Virginia for religious freedom and his service. The emancipation of the slaves, a pattern. Washington and Jefferson are ably with the great Sphinx of Egypt, country's natural resources. Mount Rushmore National Memorial opposition to the laws of primogeniture a consequence of the struggle for the exalted as the founding fathers; Lincoln which has a total height of 70 feet, a hu­ Commission. The latter was created by and entail, he fostered a democracy with a maintenance of the Union, is inseparably as the preserver of the Union; Theodore man head of 30 feet from forehead to chin, Origin and Development of the Mount Congress on February 25,1929, the mem­ broader base and greater opportunity for connected with his name. Roosevelt as the best expression of the and a lion's body 189 feet long. The great Rushmore National Memorial bers holding office under appointment by higher education, mindful of the interests typical American. size of the sculptured figures of the four Theodore Roosevelt captured the imag­ the President of the United States. of the common man. He was an idealist, Presidents results from Borglum's con­ ination of the American people of his In the field of domestic politics, Theo­ An act of Congress approved March 3, The gigantic task of sculpturing the an architect and builder whose creative ception that a monument's dimensions own day by his varied career as political dore Roosevelt furthered a more equitable 1925, authorized the Mount Harney Me­ huge figures of the four former Presidents genius comprehended both physical should be determined by the importance reformer, "trust buster," conservationist, democracy; abroad he stood for the "open morial Association "to carve a memorial was largely completed in March 1941

2 3 4 5 the several granite domes which extend Location from 100 to 500 feet above the surround­ Mount Rushmore National Memorial ing terrain. is 3 miles southwest of Keystone, S. Dak., The area contains many species of wild­ on a paved road 2 miles from United life: deer, elk, raccoons, beaver, porcupine, States Highway No. 16. It adjoins Custer skunks, marmots, rabbits, squirrels, chip­ State Park and is only a short distance munks, and occasionally mountain (big­ from Wind Cave National Park. The Me­ horn) sheep and mountain goats. Birds morial is under the immediate supervision and fish are also numerous. These species of a superintendent and is open to the and the surrounding landscape are pro­ public throughout the year. Communica­ tected in accordance with National Park tions should be addressed to the Super­ Service policy. intendent, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Keystone, S. Dak.

The Roosevelt and Lincoln portraits as they appeared in 1940, showing the scaffolding and methods of work.

The Memorial from a distance. The natural granite formations in which the portraits are carved may be seen at the right and left of the figures. when Gutzon Borglum died. The head of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Washington had been unveiled in 1930, Theodore Roosevelt on the southeast side that of Jefferson unveiled by President of Mount Rushmore. The Memorial is ap­ Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936, Lincoln in proached by many miles of winding roads 1937, and Theodore Roosevelt in 1939. through beautiful forest scenery, and for Since March 1941, Gutzon Borglum's son, long distances dominates the skyline. The Lincoln, who had assisted in the earlier area on which the Memorial is located phases of the project, has carried to com­ supports a fine stand of ponderosa pine of pletion some details of the work outlined all ages, interspersed along streams and by his father. draws with clumps of bur oak, white spruce, some brush, and considerable Mount Rushmore The Memorial Area white birch and aspen. The entire 1,800 Public attention is captured by the acres of the Memorial are forested, except heroic scale of the sculptured figures of for roads, parking areas, and the tops of VICINITY MAP U. S. Government Printing Office: 1947 O-F-7J8480 Cover. Airplane view of memorial II IcttionaZ IIII/emoricM by Rise Studio. 6 SOUTH DAKOTA