Mount Rushmore

A photo of Mount Rushmore against clear blue skies and a few clouds.

Mount Rushmore is located in the Black Hills of South Dakota.  The idea for the sculpture is credited to Doane Robinson, who wanted to attract people to his state and promote tourism.  Initially, Robinson wanted the sculpture to feature western heroes such as Lewis and Clark, and Buffalo Bill.  However, the faces of presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln were chosen instead.  The carving was completed by Gutzon Borglum over a period of 14 years.  The monument was deemed complete on October 31, 1941 and it cost $989,992.32 to build.  Behind the carving is a cave called the “Hall of Records.”  It was intended to house the story of Mount Rushmore, but due to a lack of funding, it was never completed.