MT RUSHMORE

After leaving Wyoming we travelled into South Dakota towards Mt Rushmore. On the way we passed through Newcastle where we had a picnic lunch. We didn't really know much about Mt Rushmore but as it was on our way we decided to visit and were pleased that we did.


The monument at Mt Rushmore started as an idea to draw sightseers. In 1923 state historian Doane Robinson suggested carving giant statues in South Dakota's Black Hills. He wanted the statues to stand at the gateway to the west where the Black Hills rise from the plains as a prelude to the Rockies. Many people were opposed to the idea of interfering with a natural feature, however, the backers of the memorial persisted and sculptor Gutzon Borglum was commissioned to start the work. Calvin Coolidge dedicated the memorial in 1927, commencing 14 years of work. We were surprised that it had been started so long ago.


The four presidents represent those who brought America from colonial times into the 20th century. Most prominant is George Washington, commander of the Revolutionary Army and first US President. Next was Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, third President, and mastermind of the Louisiana Purchase.


To the far right was the 16th President Abraham Lincoln, whose leadership restored the Union and ended slavery on US soil. The last was 26th President Theodore Roosevelt, who promoted construction of the Panama Canal and ignited progressive causes such as conservation and economic reform. There you have it, just who the Presidents are and why they were chosen. This was a very impressive monument and the museum attached also offers some interesting insights. The icecreams you can buy in the visitor centre are also delicious.