Mount Rushmore is one of the most famous and popular attractions in the United States of America today. According to statistics, about three million tourists from different cities and countries visit this national memorial every year. For the Americans themselves, the giant stone bas-relief has become a kind of symbol, reminiscent of the principles on which their state was created.
Location of Mount Rushmore
Of course, many people know about the existence of a rock with giant sculptures. But where is Mount Rushmore? The memorial is located in the US state of South Dakota, near the city of Kingston. This gigantic bas-relief was carved into a granite rock in the Black Hills.
Several historical facts about the area
Interestingly, before the beginning of the colonization of American territories, this mountain range and the lands adjacent to it belonged to the Lakota Indians. In 1868, the United States even signed a peace treaty with the local population, according to which the land remained in the possession of the Indians. But in 1874, gold was discovered here, after which the government demanded that the indigenous people be relocated to the reservations. Thus began the Great Sioux War in 1876, which ended in the defeat of the Indians.
Where did the name of the mountain come from?
At the time when the Indians were the owners of these lands, the mountain had a different name - the Six Forefathers. But in 1885, the famous American businessman Charles Rushmore arrived in this area along with the expedition.
In 1930, the government decided to rename the mountain, naming it after the famous freight forwarder - this is how Mount Rushmore appeared in the USA. By the way, Mr. Rushmore once allocated five thousand dollars to create a sculpture. At that time, such a donation was considered simply huge.
How did the idea for the memorial come about?
In fact, the idea of creating such a monument is by no means new. For example, in 1849, Senator Thomas Hart Benton proposed to make a huge sculpture of Christopher Columbus in the Rocky Mountains.
Nevertheless, the famous historian Doane Robinson is considered the father of Mount Rushmore. It was he who, in 1923, proposed to knock out several monumental sculptures on the territory of the mountain range to attract tourists. Naturally, his idea looked a little different, as he proposed to portray the heroes of the Wild West.
The historian shared his idea with the famous sculptor Hudson Borglum. And already in 1924 they went together to the Black Hills to study the area. However, Borglum agreed to lead the project only if the individuals on theMount Rushmore will be not just a landmark, but a symbol of the creation of a large state. The chosen personalities were supposed to matter to every inhabitant of the country. So Mount Rushmore acquired its "face". By the way, discussions about the choice of famous figures have been going on for quite some time.
Mount Rushmore: presidents and their role in the development of the state
Each of the political figures, whose appearance is carved in the rock, during his reign managed not only to leave a mark on history, but also to make the country stronger.
For example, the first President George Washington is one of the most iconic figures in the history of the state. After all, it was he who led the struggle of the American colonies and declared war on Great Britain. Largely thanks to him, the new country achieved the much-desired independence. In addition, President Washington laid the foundation for the development of American democracy. Many believe that his face is the most important figure on the rock.
The second sculpture is the face of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, the author of the Declaration of Independence. In addition, during the reign of this president, the territory of the country has almost doubled. For example, in 1803, he acquired Louisiana, and then annexed several more states.
No less famous is Abraham Lincoln - the sixteenth president of the United States. It is difficult to overestimate his services to the state, because it was he who began the struggle to abolish slavery in the United States. Moreover, this man managed to restore the unity of the country afterheavy civil war.
Theodore Roosevelt was the last to be chosen, who throughout his career fought against large monopolies, trying to ensure the rights of the working class, and also played an important role in the implementation of the Panama Canal project.
As you can see, Mount Rushmore presidents really managed to leave an indelible mark on world history and in the heart of every American.
How was the construction work?
In fact, the creation of such a large monument required not only great skill and experience, but also some innovation in the field of construction. After all, the length of the face of any of the presidents is about 18 meters, and they are located on top of a cliff. Thanks to a host of innovations, Mount Rushmore not only became a sensation for tourists and historians, it was also widely discussed in scientific circles.
Construction work began in 1927. By the way, at that time, Mr. Borglum, who led the project, was already 60 years old. Creating a bas-relief in such conditions was very difficult. At first, workers carved giant blocks in the rock - these were blanks for heads. After that, the rock around the blocks was blown up with dynamite. And then more precise contours were created using wedges, sledgehammers and pneumatic hammers.
Mount Rushmore with the faces of four respected US Presidents was created over 14 years. During this time, more than 360 tons of rocks were removed from the territory of this massif. About one million dollars was spent on the creation of the Memorial,which at that time was an exorbitant sum. And, fortunately, no one was hurt during the construction, despite the really harsh and dangerous working conditions.
Opening of the monument and completion of construction
Since the sculptures were created gradually, they were opened one by one. For example, the public was able to see the face of President Washington for the first time in 1934 - the grand opening took place on the fourth of July. And two years later, in 1936, President Franklin Roosevelt appeared at the celebration of the unveiling of the statue of Thomas Jefferson.
The sculpture of Abraham Lincoln was unveiled in 1937, namely on September 17, when the whole country celebrated the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution. And after another two years, tourists could already admire the completely finished bas-relief. By the way, in the same 1939, a night lighting system was installed on the territory of the National Memorial.
For another two years, work continued on the creation of the monument. After all, it's no secret that Hudson Borglum was going to enlarge the sculptures. But, unfortunately, in March 1941, the famous sculptor dies. For a time, his son Lincoln took over the management of the work. But in connection with the forthcoming participation of the country in World War II, the work was decided to stop. On October 31, 1941, the National Memorial was solemnly declared complete.
Tourism at the national memorial site
Not everyone knows that tourism is the second largest source ofincome for South Dakota. Mount Rushmore (USA) was created primarily to attract tourists. And it continues to fulfill its mission to this day.
The National Memorial is visited by an average of three million tourists annually, which, of course, has a positive effect on the state budget. There are plenty of other sights around the mountain that are really interesting to see.
In addition, the National Park, in which the mountain is located, is one of the largest and most famous centers of sport climbing in the world. Of course, it is forbidden to practice this sport in the sculpture area, but most of the mountain range is open to those who wish.
Other interesting sights
Next to the rock there is the Lincoln Borglum Center and a museum that all tourists are invited to visit. On its territory there are two large auditoriums where films about the creation of Mount Rushmore are broadcast. Nearby is the Sculptor's Studio, where you can look at various models of the monument (including its original version), as well as the tools with which the construction was carried out.
Another attraction is the so-called Avenue of Flags, which is surrounded on all sides by the official banners of different states, regions and territories of the United States. By the way, they are in alphabetical order. The alley is connected to the presidential trail and a viewing terrace.
A traditional Lakota village has also been recreated on the grounds of the National Memorial,who once owned these lands. Here, tourists are offered to get acquainted with the lifestyle, traditions and way of life of the indigenous population.
