Mount Rushmore
Smore by: Sarah Halai
Culture
Glutzon Borglum and his son, Lincoln Borglum, sculpted sixty foot heads of important United States presidents into the Black Hills in South Dakota. The presidents carved on are: George Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln. This national monument attracts millions of tourists each year.
History of Mt. Rushmore
The project to carve in the four presidents' faces' into the Black Hills began in 1927 and was completed in 1941. Mountain Rushmore design was put together by Gutzon Burglum. In 1930, George Washington's head was announced to be carved into the rock. Six years later, Jefferson's head was said to be put in as well. A year later, Lincoln is head was dedicated. Theodore Roosevelt's head was dedicated in 1939.
Native Americans verses Mt. Rushmore
Located on the Black Hills, the sacred land of the Sioux Indians, Mt. Rushmore stands a disappointment to some. The Sioux Indians were originally granted that piece of land by a treaty when settlers came through. But when gold was found in one of the mountains near by, the Indians were forced to give up the land. The only option left for the Indians... war. The Indians won the first battle against the army, but in South Dakota in 1890, the last major defeat took place for the Natives. This lost them their sacred land of the Black Hills.
Mt. Rushmore in a Different Perspective
Mt. Rushmore
Mt. Rushmore Arial View
Fun Facts
- The faces on Mt. Rushmore are as tall as a six foot building
- Mt. Rushmore was carved mostly during the Great Depression
- Near 90% of Mt. Rushmore was carved using dynamite
- Even though mountain goats are not native to the area, mountain goats are sometimes seen wandering around the mountains
- The dynamite took off approximately 450,000 pounds of rock
- The project to build Mt. Rushmore cost the United States about 1,000,000 dollars
Activities and Events Near Mt. Rushmore
There is a lot more to do than sit around and stare at a mountain with faces carved in it when you are near Mt. Rushmore. You can become a mini ranger of the park and learn something new. Or you can go around the area and visit the amazing museums that take you through time. Art gathering, water parks, great food and stops are all on the agenda. Look around at the amazing wildlife of Keystone, there is so much to see, you can not accomplish it all in one trip.
Climate
The climate does not really affect Mt. Rushmore directly. There are cold winters, mild summers and great fall and springs. The weather and time of season does affect how many tourists visit, though. Summer time is a busy time, because of the weather and the time of year. Some people visit during winter for skiing and winter events, but besides that, most parks in the area are closed around that time due to the snow. Spring is a good time as well, but sunny weather is not always guaranteed (April showers bring May flowers). Fall is best advised because of the beautiful colors that arise during the autumn time. The weather during this time is great too.