Mt. Rushmore

Mt. Rushmore... This amazing landmark located in the Black Hills of South Dakota was carved by Gutzon Borglum and 400 men in just 14 years.  Only six years were spent carving, the other eight were spent raising funds for this enormous project, which cost less than a million dollars. Gutzon died in 1941 before the completion of the monument, leaving his son, Lincoln, to finish the work.  The four presidents Gutzon chose each represent something that happened to shape our country.  President George Washington represents the founding of our country as our first president.  Thomas Jefferson doubled our land in size when he bought the Louisiana Purchase.  Theodore Roosevelt promoted construction on the Panama Canal and encouraged causes like conservation and economic reform.  Abraham Lincoln, our 16th president, kept our country together during the Civil War and ended slavery on American soil.  These four men are remembered today through Gutzon and Lincoln Borglums carvings in the Black Hills.

 To give you an idea of the size of these carvings, George Washington's nose is over 20 feet long!

 We went for a little walk and saw these mountain goats!

 We also went in the evening for the lighting ceremony.


Canada here we come!