Mount Rushmore in South Dakota - rock with a 18 meter high faces of four US presidents

Mount Rushmore is one of the most recognizable places in the United States, attracting tourists from all over the world. It is located in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota and is a symbol of American history and democracy. This monument presents the faces of four American presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, carved in granite rock at a height of 18 meters each.

Idea and implementation

The idea to create a mountain-monument was born in the mind of a local historian and publicist, Doane Robinson. Its goal was to attract tourists to the beautiful landscapes of the Black Hills. In 1924, he interested the sculptor Gutzon Borglum with this idea, who enthusiastically took up the challenge. Borglum had an ambitious plan to create a "temple of democracy", where the figures of presidents were to be carved up to the waist. Unfortunately, for various reasons, the project was never completed in the intended shape, but even the heads of the presidents themselves are an impressive sight.

Gutzon Borglum led a team of over 400 workers, including his son, Lincoln Borglum. Together they removed approximately 450,000 tons of stone from the mountainside using dynamite, a drill, a hammer and a chisel. The work was dangerous and required precision, as workers often had to work on swinging platforms suspended high above the ground. It is worth emphasizing that despite these difficult conditions, no one died while working on the monument.

Creation history

Work on Mount Rushmore was frequently interrupted due to bad weather and management conflicts. Ultimately, individual heads of presidents were unveiled in subsequent years: George Washington in 1930, Thomas Jefferson in 1936, Abraham Lincoln in 1937, and Theodore Roosevelt in 1939. Interestingly, Thomas Jefferson's face was initially supposed to be carved to the right of George Washington. However, after 18 months of work, it was decided to change its location and Jefferson was carved to the left of Washington.

The name "Mount Rushmore" comes from Charles E. Rushmore, an attorney who came to South Dakota to work. When he asked the locals about the name of the mountain, he learned that it had no name. He then said: "From now on we will call it Mount Rushmore."

Maintenance and maintenance

Maintaining Mount Rushmore is a task that requires constant care and monitoring. Each year, specially trained mountain climbers perform maintenance work that includes cleaning, sealing cracks and other necessary repairs. Despite these actions, natural erosion, which over time affects the structure of the monument, cannot be completely stopped. It is estimated that over 10,000 years, approximately 3 cm of the mountain's volume will be lost due to erosion.

Mount Rushmore today

Today, Mount Rushmore is not only a historical monument, but also a popular tourist attraction. Every year it is visited by over 3 million tourists from all over the world. The sight of the monumental faces of presidents carved in rock makes a great impression and remains in memory for a long time. Moreover, the entire relief is visible from a distance of up to 100 kilometers, which only enhances its majestic character.

Visitors can also use the tourist center, where there are exhibitions devoted to the history of the monument's creation and the life and work of Gutzon Borglum. There are also a variety of hiking trails that lead to viewpoints offering incredible panoramas of the Black Hills Mountains.

Impact on culture and tourism

Mount Rushmore has become an icon of American culture and one of the most recognizable national symbols. This monument frequently appears in films, television programs and literature, symbolizing American pride and heritage. Its impact on South Dakota tourism is enormous, attracting millions of visitors annually and bringing significant revenue to the local economy.

Visitors have the opportunity not only to admire monumental sculptures, but also to learn more about the history of the United States and the people who helped shape it. In this way, Mount Rushmore plays an educational role, inspiring subsequent generations to learn more about the history and values ​​that underpinned the founding of this great nation.

Interesting facts

It is impossible to talk about Mount Rushmore without mentioning some interesting facts and curiosities related to this monument. For example, few people know that Gutzon Borglum planned to create an even larger work, which was also to include the representation of the entire figures of the presidents, not just their heads. Unfortunately, due to lack of funds and the death of samy Borglum in 1941, these ambitious plans were never realized.

Another interesting fact is that the presidents' faces were carved with incredible precision. Each face measures approximately 18 meters tall, and the presidents' noses are approximately 6 meters long. The eyes are 3.4 meters wide and the mouth is about 5.5 meters wide. These impressive dimensions make Mount Rushmore one of the most spectacular works of sculpture in the world.

Summary

Mount Rushmore in South Dakota is an extraordinary monument that symbolizes American history, democracy and heritage. Featuring the faces of four great presidents, this monument attracts millions of tourists annually, offering not only stunning views but also a valuable history lesson. Its creation was possible thanks to the vision of Doane Robinson and the extraordinary skills of Gutzon Borglum and the hard work of hundreds of workers. Despite the passage of time and natural erosion, Mount Rushmore still impresses with its monumentality and importance, remaining one of the most important symbols of the United States.