June 10 -- Mount Rushmore SD

Tuesday, June 10 – Mount Rushmore

(Pictures following)

Hind sight is always a good teacher. It tells us we should have left this awesome piece of history for another day, but we were traveling east and that means in the direction of home. Even though it was around seven when we arrived at Mount Rushmore, but we still had some day light hours left and seemed to have enough energy for one more adventure. I’m sure there were other places we could have visited to make us better informed for this great sight, but here we were.

Since we have had time to look through more of our literature we realize that there was a Borglum Historical Center in Keystone, SD, which would be great to visit before the Mount Rushmore visit. I’d recommend doing this if you go there. Borglum did so much more than Rushmore, one being Stone Mountain in Georgia which is a mountain carving commemorating the Civil War. We had the privilege of seeing this several years ago, but didn’t tie the two together until we read about it.

After leaving the parking garage we walked in between the Avenue of Flags which represents the 56 states and territories. They are flying in all their glory below the carvings of the four presidents. Mount Rushmore represents America’s pride and patriotism. It is presently the largest sculpture in the world and is one of the Wonders of the World. Just to stand there and look at it between those flags gave us chills.

Gutzon Borglum started this huge project at age 60. October 4, 1927 he along with 400 workers started the carving. Lack of funding and bad weather made the project move slowly, but it was completed on October 31, of 1941. Each head was dedicated as it was finished. Washington was formally dedicated first in 1930, then Jefferson in 1936, followed by Lincoln in 1937. Finally the last head to be dedicated was Roosevelt in 1939. Shortly after this, in March of 1941 the great sculptor died. His son supervised completion of the heads. The final dedication was held 50 years after Borglum’s death.

After walking between the Wall of Flags, we went into the bleachers and got a back row seat providing us with a back rest sitting there staring at the awesome sight in front of us. There were hikers on the sides of the mountain around the carving, thus viewing it from a different angle. We talked with others from different areas of the USA and Canada who were traveling just as we were. Some were taking their first trip and others do it every year.

As I sat on the bleachers and stared at the faces of those four great presidents, I realized that according to history they were remembered at the greatest presidents, but I wondered why they were the ones chosen to be carved, and if there was ever any discussion about the selection.

Later in the evening, a program was presented on the stage. The host of the program invited guests to come up and ask any question about the presidents. He was well prepared to answer most of the questions. One guest asked why those particular presidents were chosen. I cannot remember the exact answer given, but decided to do a little research and to my surprise I found the reasons to be not exactly in the same wording from place to place, but the meaning was definitely the same.

I will give a couple of the reasons given for each of them. George Washington signifies the struggle for independence and birth of our country. – Father of our country. Thomas Jefferson signifies the territorial expansion of our country. – The Louisiana Purchase and the constitution. Abraham Lincoln was chosen for the permanent union of the United States and equality for all. – Ending slavery. Theodore Roosevelt signifies the 20^th century role of the U.S. in world affairs. –An overall great caring president – also creating the national park system. All four of these presidents had a tremendous affect on our nation so they are very deserving of the honor given to them.

After the program which told us about the history of the creation of Mount Rushmore there was a lighting ceremony. They lit up the faces of the four great presidents. In the blanket of darkness the four honored presidents shined as did their lives.

As we drove back to the camper we pondered our day realizing what a privilege it was to have the freedom and health to take such a trip and see all of the things we had seen. It was an overwhelming thought.