Mount Rushmore is one of the most famous monuments in America. Located in South Dakota, the monument is dedicated to four past Presidents of the United States. It is carved into the rock of the Black Hills, the mountain range that rises from the Great Plains of North America. If you are curious about this iconic and controversial American monument, read on. We’ll tell you how long it took to do Mount Rushmore, as well as loads of other interesting facts about its construction.
How Long did it Take to do Mount Rushmore?
It took 14 years to do Mount Rushmore.
When was the monument built?
Work began in 1927 and finished in 1941.
Where is Mount Rushmore?
Mount Rushmore National Memorial is located in Keystone, South Dakota in the United States of America.
Who built Mount Rushmore?
Local historian, Jonah LeRoy “Doane” Robinson came up with the idea for the monument in 1923. He thought it would be a great way of drawing more tourists, and more money, to the state of South Dakota. Sculptor Gutzon Borglum created the design. He also oversaw and managed the project from 1927 to 1941. His son, Lincoln Borglum also helped with the project management. The actual workers who built the monument were not artists, they were miners who headed to the Black Hills in search of gold.
How many people built Mount Rushmore?
From 1927 to 1941, some 400 men helped to build the monument.
What faces are on Mount Rushmore?
The monument features the faces of presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt.
What is Mount Rushmore made of?
The monument is made of granite. It is carved into the granite of the Black Hills in South Dakota.
How did they build Mount Rushmore?
To build the monument, they blasted the rock with dynamic. To carve the four presidential faces, the workers had to remove more than 450,000 tons of granite. At first, they tried to do this using chisels and jackhammers, but after three weeks of work, and getting nowhere fast, they decided to try dynamite. The workers prepared the mountain by drilling deep holes into the rock. Then a ‘powder monkey’ – a worker trained in explosives – placed the dynamite in the holes, working their way from the bottom to top. The powder monkey detonated the dynamite whilst the other workers were on their lunch break.
How many people died building the monument?
Despite the dangerous work, no one died whilst building Mount Rushmore.
How much did it cost to build the monument?
It cost $989,992.32 to build Mount Rushmore.
What is inside Mount Rushmore?
There is a secret room inside Mount Rushmore. Workers left this room unfinished when funds began to dwindle. In 1998, authorities placed a time capsule in the room. In it, they put porcelain tablets that tell the story of the monument, as well as images and texts from the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and biographies of the presidents and Borglum.
Why is Mount Rushmore controversial?
The monument is controversial because Native Americans consider it to be disrespectful. The Lakota Indians call the mountain the Six Grandfathers and for them, it is a sacred place. However, the United States requisitioned the land from the Lakota Indians. Native Americans saw the carving of the heads into their sacred mountain as a great sign of disrespect.
