Mount Rushmore National Memorial, SD (5-6-11)

Mt. Rushmore is one of America's most recognizable monuments. It has been a long dream of mine to visit this place and to finally have the opportunity was a bit surreal. Being as famous as they are, this album needs no real explanation so here are just a few fun facts...

Construction began on the monument in 1927 under the direction of one Gutzon Borglum, a famous sculptor, and continued off-and-on for 14 years. The government didn't step in to help finance the project until seven years in and then in 1941, with World War 2 looming, cut funding which is why the presidents' are not finished to their waist as was originally planned. There were no injuries or fatalities over the course of the construction. Each head is 60' tall, each eye is about 11' across, each mouth 18' across, and each nose about 20' long! There, I think that about does it...come on in and explore...

Entrance to the National Monument...looking south and east from the parking deck...
National Monument memorial National Park Black Hills Keystone Rapid City South Dakota Borglum Washington Lincoln Roosevelt Jefferson Democracy
George, Tom, Teddy, and Abe greeted us from the parking lot...
National Monument memorial National Park Black Hills Keystone Rapid City South Dakota Borglum Washington Lincoln Roosevelt Jefferson Democracy
The sprawling entrance to the monument...
National Monument memorial National Park Black Hills Keystone Rapid City South Dakota Borglum Washington Lincoln Roosevelt Jefferson Democracy
Yup, we're at the right place...
National Monument memorial National Park Black Hills Keystone Rapid City South Dakota Borglum Washington Lincoln Roosevelt Jefferson Democracy
The faces are ever present as you approach the viewing deck...
National Monument memorial National Park Black Hills Keystone Rapid City South Dakota Borglum Washington Lincoln Roosevelt Jefferson Democracy
The 'Avenue of Flags'...
National Monument memorial National Park Black Hills Keystone Rapid City South Dakota Borglum Washington Lincoln Roosevelt Jefferson Democracy
Michigan at Mt. Rushmore...
National Monument memorial National Park Black Hills Keystone Rapid City South Dakota Borglum Washington Lincoln Roosevelt Jefferson Democracy
The monument from the viewing deck which doubles as the roof of the visitor center...
National Monument memorial National Park Black Hills Keystone Rapid City South Dakota Borglum Washington Lincoln Roosevelt Jefferson Democracy
A closer look...
National Monument memorial National Park Black Hills Keystone Rapid City South Dakota Borglum Washington Lincoln Roosevelt Jefferson Democracy
George Washington, Father of the Nation
National Monument memorial National Park Black Hills Keystone Rapid City South Dakota Borglum Washington Lincoln Roosevelt Jefferson Democracy
Thomas Jefferson, the Expansionist
National Monument memorial National Park Black Hills Keystone Rapid City South Dakota Borglum Washington Lincoln Roosevelt Jefferson Democracy
Theodore Roosevelt, Protector of the Working Man
National Monument memorial National Park Black Hills Keystone Rapid City South Dakota Borglum Washington Lincoln Roosevelt Jefferson Democracy
Abraham Lincoln, Preserver of the Union
National Monument memorial National Park Black Hills Keystone Rapid City South Dakota Borglum Washington Lincoln Roosevelt Jefferson Democracy
Apparently I've adopted my fathers ability to squint for photos...
National Monument memorial National Park Black Hills Keystone Rapid City South Dakota Borglum Washington Lincoln Roosevelt Jefferson Democracy
Mount Rushmore
National Monument memorial National Park Black Hills Keystone Rapid City South Dakota Borglum Washington Lincoln Roosevelt Jefferson Democracy
The original plans called for the figures to be completed to the waist...
National Monument memorial National Park Black Hills Keystone Rapid City South Dakota Borglum Washington Lincoln Roosevelt Jefferson Democracy
Heading out on the Presidential Loop Trail which allows you to get right up under the monument...
National Monument memorial National Park Black Hills Keystone Rapid City South Dakota Borglum Washington Lincoln Roosevelt Jefferson Democracy
A couple Yellow-bellied Marmots were scurrying about near the trailhead...
National Monument memorial National Park Black Hills Keystone Rapid City South Dakota Borglum Washington Lincoln Roosevelt Jefferson Democracy
Getting right up under George...
National Monument memorial National Park Black Hills Keystone Rapid City South Dakota Borglum Washington Lincoln Roosevelt Jefferson Democracy
Washington through the trees...
National Monument memorial National Park Black Hills Keystone Rapid City South Dakota Borglum Washington Lincoln Roosevelt Jefferson Democracy
Posing with Mr. Washington...
National Monument memorial National Park Black Hills Keystone Rapid City South Dakota Borglum Washington Lincoln Roosevelt Jefferson Democracy
Ummmm...oops...
National Monument memorial National Park Black Hills Keystone Rapid City South Dakota Borglum Washington Lincoln Roosevelt Jefferson Democracy
Washington & Lincoln...
National Monument memorial National Park Black Hills Keystone Rapid City South Dakota Borglum Washington Lincoln Roosevelt Jefferson Democracy
From the bottom of the blast pile...
National Monument memorial National Park Black Hills Keystone Rapid City South Dakota Borglum Washington Lincoln Roosevelt Jefferson Democracy
Another shot with the boys...
National Monument memorial National Park Black Hills Keystone Rapid City South Dakota Borglum Washington Lincoln Roosevelt Jefferson Democracy
A close-up of Washington...
National Monument memorial National Park Black Hills Keystone Rapid City South Dakota Borglum Washington Lincoln Roosevelt Jefferson Democracy
Washington / Jefferson close-up...
National Monument memorial National Park Black Hills Keystone Rapid City South Dakota Borglum Washington Lincoln Roosevelt Jefferson Democracy
Roosevelt / Lincoln close-up...
National Monument memorial National Park Black Hills Keystone Rapid City South Dakota Borglum Washington Lincoln Roosevelt Jefferson Democracy
Looking across to the viewing deck and visitor center from the trail...
National Monument memorial National Park Black Hills Keystone Rapid City South Dakota Borglum Washington Lincoln Roosevelt Jefferson Democracy
Through breaks in the trees you could even see down east to the surrounding plains...
National Monument memorial National Park Black Hills Keystone Rapid City South Dakota Borglum Washington Lincoln Roosevelt Jefferson Democracy
Towards the end of the loop the path winds its way through a boulder field via a series of twisting staircases...
National Monument memorial National Park Black Hills Keystone Rapid City South Dakota Borglum Washington Lincoln Roosevelt Jefferson Democracy
I couldn't get the image of a giant stack of pancakes out of my head when passing this boulder...
National Monument memorial National Park Black Hills Keystone Rapid City South Dakota Borglum Washington Lincoln Roosevelt Jefferson Democracy
One last look through the trees...
National Monument memorial National Park Black Hills Keystone Rapid City South Dakota Borglum Washington Lincoln Roosevelt Jefferson Democracy
Passing a small shack housing one of the engines used in the carving we turned uphill back to the visitor center...
National Monument memorial National Park Black Hills Keystone Rapid City South Dakota Borglum Washington Lincoln Roosevelt Jefferson Democracy

dwhike

Mount Rushmore National Memorial, SD (5-6-11)