In 1923, Doane Robinson, the acting superintendent of the South Dakota State Historical Society, promoted the idea of carving Western figures such as Chief Red Cloud, Buffalo Bill, Lewis & Clark and legendary Sioux warriors into the mountains to attract tourists. He enlisted the aid of SD Senator Peter Norbeck who had the admiration of many in Washington, DC as well as the people of SD. In August of 1924, they pitched the idea to Sculptor Gutzon Borglum, one of America’s most prolific artists. Fiery and stubborn, Borglum lived for visions and accepted the offer.
However, upon his arrival in September 1924, Borglum informed Robinson and Norbeck his life’s work would not be spent on immortalizing local heroes. He insisted that the work demanded a subject national in nature and timeless in it’s relevance to history. 
The trio finally settled on the four great presidential figures for the carving as they would create an eternal reminder of the birth, growth, preservation and development of a nation dedicated to democracy and the pursuit of individual liberty. 
Borglum found Mt. Rushmore on his second site-searching trip. Congress and the SD Legislature approved the site and it was dedicated by President Calvin Coolidge on August 10, 1927. He rode up to the site on horseback, sporting cowboy boots and a 10-gallon hat given to him by local residents. 
Over the next 14 years, 400 workers drilled, carved and blasted away the mountainside and formed the figures we see today. The powder men became so skilled that they could blast within four inches of the finished surface and grade the contours for the lips, nose, cheeks, neck and brow. 90% of the 450,000 tons of granite removed from the mountain was taken out with dynamite. 
Borglum died in March 1941. His son Lincoln spent another seven months refining the monument. Work stopped on October 31, 1941, leaving Mt. Rushmore as we know it today.
Homer and I spent the morning hiking the walkway along the base of the monument taking pictures from different vantage points.
This mountain goat sauntered by as I was taking a picture, unbothered by the tourists (I’m guessing he’s done this before). After having some great ribs for lunch, 
Homer and I road the 1880 Train twenty miles round trip from Keystone to Hill City and back. We returned to Mt. Rushmore that evening to view a video program after which, they light up the monument. About ten minutes (ok?) before the program started, it began to rain. Me and my hearing aides took shelter under an overhang, Homer, shield by his rain jacket, stood out in the open so he could see the video, and even as the rain came down harder never wavered. One does not wait 46 years to fulfill a dream and let a little rain spoil the moment. 
However, upon his arrival in September 1924, Borglum informed Robinson and Norbeck his life’s work would not be spent on immortalizing local heroes. He insisted that the work demanded a subject national in nature and timeless in it’s relevance to history. 
The trio finally settled on the four great presidential figures for the carving as they would create an eternal reminder of the birth, growth, preservation and development of a nation dedicated to democracy and the pursuit of individual liberty. 
Borglum found Mt. Rushmore on his second site-searching trip. Congress and the SD Legislature approved the site and it was dedicated by President Calvin Coolidge on August 10, 1927. He rode up to the site on horseback, sporting cowboy boots and a 10-gallon hat given to him by local residents. 
Over the next 14 years, 400 workers drilled, carved and blasted away the mountainside and formed the figures we see today. The powder men became so skilled that they could blast within four inches of the finished surface and grade the contours for the lips, nose, cheeks, neck and brow. 90% of the 450,000 tons of granite removed from the mountain was taken out with dynamite. 
Borglum died in March 1941. His son Lincoln spent another seven months refining the monument. Work stopped on October 31, 1941, leaving Mt. Rushmore as we know it today.Homer and I spent the morning hiking the walkway along the base of the monument taking pictures from different vantage points.
This mountain goat sauntered by as I was taking a picture, unbothered by the tourists (I’m guessing he’s done this before). After having some great ribs for lunch, 
Homer and I road the 1880 Train twenty miles round trip from Keystone to Hill City and back. We returned to Mt. Rushmore that evening to view a video program after which, they light up the monument. About ten minutes (ok?) before the program started, it began to rain. Me and my hearing aides took shelter under an overhang, Homer, shield by his rain jacket, stood out in the open so he could see the video, and even as the rain came down harder never wavered. One does not wait 46 years to fulfill a dream and let a little rain spoil the moment. 
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