Mt. Rushmore
Social Studies Project
5th Grade - Mrs. Srader
by Hannah Walsh
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Mount Rushmore Links Great Information Wikipedia Directions to Mt. Rushmore American Park Info More American Park Info National Park Info |
Mt. Rushmore's HistoryIn 1923, Doane Robinson, a historian came up with an idea to attract tourism in South Dakota. He later convinced Gutzon Borglum, a sculptor, to create Mt. Rushmore. At the time, though, the images of the four presidents representing the first 150 years of American history was going to be carved in granite pillars known as the Needles.Borglum changed his plans when he saw Mt. Rushmore. He said, “America will march along that skyline.” Borglum was in charge of deciding the presidents he would sculpt out of the mountain. President Calvin Coolidge insisted that along with Washington, two Republicans and one Democrat be displayed. He chose Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln to go next to Washington. On August 10, 1927, they began carving out the image of George Washington. By July 4, 1934, Washington’s face had been finished and dedicated. The face of Thomas Jefferson was dedicated in 1936, and the face of Abraham Lincoln was dedicated on September 17, 1937. In 1939, the face of Theodore Roosevelt was dedicated. Unfortunately, Borglum died in 1941 of embolism (blood clots). His son, Lincoln Borglum was appointed to finish the project, but a short time after Borglum's death, the project went over budget. The entire project cost $989,992.32. Amazingly, no one was killed. President George Bush officially dedicated it in 1991. President Calvin Coolidge believed Mount Rushmore was "decidedly American in its conception, magnitude and meaning. It is altogether worthy of our country". Fun Facts: |
