Mount Rushmore
(National Memorial near Keystone, S. Dakota)
In the year 1927, work began on a shrine of democracy
carved in granite, a massive structure unlike
any other, representing the first 150 years of
U.S. history.
It took fourteen years for Gutzon Borglum and a team
of dedicated S. Dakota workers to build
the national monument which consists of 60 ft. sculptures
of the heads of four former U.S. presidents:
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson,
Theodore Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln
(President Coolidge insisted that along with Washington,
two Republicans and one Democrat
be portrayed.)
These presidents were selected by sculptor Gutzon Borglum
because of their role in preserving the Republic and expanding
its territory.
Although it was a daunting task, no one was hurt or killed
while working on the huge monument.
In 1937, a bill was introduced in Congress to add the head
of civil rights leader Susan B. Anthony, but a rider 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.
In 1991, President George H. W. Bush
officially dedicated Mount Rushmore.
In a canyon behind the carved faces is a chamber
containing a vault with 16 porcelain enamel panels.
The panels include the text of the Declaration of Independence
and the Constitution, biographies of the four presidents and Gutzon Borglum
and the history of the United States. The vault was installed in 1998.
The entire project cost $989,992.32.
(Mount Rushmore is controversial among Native Americans
because the U.S. seized the area from the Lakota tribe
after the Black Hills War in 1876-77.
The Treaty of Fort Laramie 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 Cheyenne in 1776. Members of the American Indian Movement
led an occupation of the monument in 1971, naming it "Mount Crazy Horse".
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 Ku Klux Klan.)
Mount Rushmore, the tallest mountain in the region,
looming to a height of 5,725 ft., is South Dakota's
#1 tourist attraction. Historian Doane Robinson conceived the idea for Mount Rushmore to promote tourism in South Dakota. It was a good idea...over two million tourists visit the memorial each year.
Maureen Halasovski - August 21, 2007
Author notes
The picture shows the monument as it was originally conceived.
The plan was that the figures would be carved from head to waist but insufficient funding forced the carving to end.
I chose Mount Rushmore because I was impressed
with the giant sculpture and wanted to learn more about it.
The controversy surrounding it increased my interest in it.
A contest entry
- Only For Members of Hugh Wyles Favourites Group #19 by huguenauties.
750 points, ended August 30, 2007, 12 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 13 of 13
-
The mountain is so huge, I am impressed by the vision and effort required to sculpt four prominent leaders in it. Among the many interesting facts, there was one which struck me more than the others: "no one was hurt or killed". That is a true accomplishment, in a time when workers were frequently killed or maimed in other projects. Well told! Best of luck!
-
Very Informative
I have been to Mt Rushmore many times over the years...it is a most impressive monument but it does not surprise me to read the govenment stole the property from the Indians...It certainly is not the first time they took Indian property to suit there desires and needs irregardless of the Indian's needs and desires...Good luck in the contest...DArlene
-
The thing I liked best was your equal treatment of the situation. It would have been easy to simply treat it romantically and say nothing negative, but instead you were honest and mentioned the controversies, which makes this history not a simple paean to our country.
I knew very little about Rushmore and your column/poem was as illuminating as it was well written and informative. I very much admire how you laid this out in a cohesive manner, it made for not only an enjoyable read but an educated one.
-
Dear Maureen, I enjoyed your poem about Mount Rushmore and the story behing it's creation.
Very lovely my friend.
Jen
-
Dear Maureen,
I love the way you have written how Mount Rushmore was created, it's a very interesting story.
And is definitely a man made Icon. I often see them in movies and documentary's and often marvel at how they got them there.
Love Hine
-
excellent~
I have always wanted to see this sis..
You picked a good one to write about...and I learned quite a bit from your time and effort you put in on this one...
Love the pic and the background blends in perfectly...
Best of luck in the contest...
Hugs
Susan~~~~
-
My one sister lives in Custer so not that very far from there...
Hugs...Eddy
-
Dear Maureen,
Thankyou for this enlightening history of the outstanding Dakota icon. Oneluckygirl introduced me some years ago to the history of the Black Hills, the Lakota Tribes and the monument to Crazy Horse which is carved from a mountain face not far distant fromn Mt. Rushmore.
Your narrative is written with your usual skill, explicit, concise and factual. My only criticism is that the dark background makes your excellent text difficult to read without highlighting.
But having said that, it was well worth the effort.
Applause, good luck in the voting and, as always,
Love and hugs, XXX Hugh (R.)
-
-
Dear Hugh,
Thank you for letting me know you had a problem reading my poem. I accidentally hit the brightness button a little while ago and my screen became very bright. The background I used for this poem looked bright to me so now I'm going to have to figure out how to set the brightness back to its original setting so this doesn't happen again.
Thank you, also, for your nice comment about my entry in the contest.
Love and hugs,
Maureen
-
-
Dear Maureen, What a wonderful monument you have chosen to write about. And very interesting. I've seen the statues in films but I never knew the history of Mt Rushmore. Thank you my dear Soul/Sister for your very informative poem.
Thankyou for entering our group contest and good luck in the voting.
Love Joan
-
-
Dear Joan,
I'm glad you enjoyed my entry in the contest. I always appreciate your comments, my sweet soul sister.
Love and hugs,
Maureen
-
-
Dearest Maureen
What an epic, a true rendition of the history of Mount Rushmore. I enjoyed this very much, and must say, I had considered this subject for my poem. However, I chose another which I am still in the process of editing. It isn't an easy contest. I find yours exhilirating to read. Thank you and best of luck in the contest.
Hugs and love,
Petratani
-
-
Dear Petra,
Thank you for your nice comment. I'm glad you enjoyed reading my entry in this contest. I had to do some research and decide which facts to include and which ones to exclude but I enjoyed learning more about Mount Rushmore in the process.
Love and hugs,
Maureen
-
Adding your comment:
1 - 13 of 13
