Why is mt. rushmore important

Related: How should visitors deal with the racist implications of Stone Mountain? Robinson envisioned an ode to the old West, with carvings of historic figures such as Lewis and Clark and Lakota leader Red Cloud.

He reached out to Stone Mountain sculptor Gutzon Borglum —who would transform the granite mountain into what it is today. Borglum had gained fame for sculptures honoring U. By August , Borglum had agreed to work on Mount Rushmore—but not the way Robinson had pitched it. Theodore Roosevelt, who had overseen the construction of the Panama Canal, was a symbol of economic growth. And Abraham Lincoln was selected for having fought to preserve the nation in the Civil War. Over the next 16 years, Borglum wrangled with the federal government about funding and control of Mount Rushmore—which he never technically completed.

Borglum hoped to carve the presidents down to their waists and chisel a description of the memorial next to them. S historical artifacts. In , Borglum began blasting a foot tunnel into the mountain for his Hall of Records. Worried about funding as war loomed in Europe, however, the U. Borglum was still refining those heads when his health began to deteriorate. He died on March 6, , leaving his son, Lincoln, to continue his work. The project was declared finished on October 31, The tunnel that Borglum had drilled for the Hall of Records sat empty for decades until , when the National Park Service placed a titanium vault in the floor, filling it with information on Mount Rushmore, the presidents, and U.

However, the filming itself sparked a controversy. The National Park Service and the U. Department of the Interior cried foul, and ultimately asked Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to remove the credit line at the end of the movie thanking them for their cooperation.

Mount Rushmore opened to the public even as the Lakota continued legal challenges. In the decades since, the memorial and its surroundings have served as a flash point for the treatment of Native Americans. Although the loss of the land was a far bigger concern for many Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho, Hill says that some indigenous people wanted the site to recognize their history, too. Native nations have also taken issue with the way Mount Rushmore told their story—and that of U. And with Theodore Roosevelt unexpectedly became the 26th president of the United States in September after the assassination of William McKinley.

Young and physically robust, he brought a new energy to the White House, and won a second term on his own merits in Roosevelt, a Departing from the monarchical tradition of Britain, the founding fathers of the United States created a system in which the American people had the power and responsibility to select their leader.

Article II, Section 1 of the U. Constitution establishes the Executive Branch of Army with distinguished service in the Spanish-American War and the Philippines. After leading U. Live TV. This Day In History. History Vault. Recommended for you.

Pumpkin Carving: Mount Rushmore. All the cultures that make up the fabric of this country are represented by the memorial and surrounding Black Hills. One of the most important gifts we can give our visitors at Mount Rushmore National Memorial is an understanding and love for our nation's history and cultures and an appreciation of the importance of caring for that legacy. Explore some of the people who helped Mount Rushmore National Memorial become a reality.

Find out more about why these presidents were chosen and how the mountain was carved. Co-Sponsored Legislation. Committee Assignments. Caucus Membership. South Dakota Toggle Submenu. Regional Offices. South Dakota Links. Search Search. Recent Op-Eds.