Mount Rushmore National Memorial, SD (5-6-11)
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...
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George, Tom, Teddy, and Abe greeted us from the parking lot...
National MonumentmemorialNational ParkBlack HillsKeystoneRapid CitySouth DakotaBorglumWashingtonLincolnRooseveltJeffersonDemocracy
The sprawling entrance to the monument...
National MonumentmemorialNational ParkBlack HillsKeystoneRapid CitySouth DakotaBorglumWashingtonLincolnRooseveltJeffersonDemocracy
The faces are ever present as you approach the viewing deck...
National MonumentmemorialNational ParkBlack HillsKeystoneRapid CitySouth DakotaBorglumWashingtonLincolnRooseveltJeffersonDemocracy
The monument from the viewing deck which doubles as the roof of the visitor center...
National MonumentmemorialNational ParkBlack HillsKeystoneRapid CitySouth DakotaBorglumWashingtonLincolnRooseveltJeffersonDemocracy
George Washington, Father of the Nation
National MonumentmemorialNational ParkBlack HillsKeystoneRapid CitySouth DakotaBorglumWashingtonLincolnRooseveltJeffersonDemocracy
Thomas Jefferson, the Expansionist
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Theodore Roosevelt, Protector of the Working Man
National MonumentmemorialNational ParkBlack HillsKeystoneRapid CitySouth DakotaBorglumWashingtonLincolnRooseveltJeffersonDemocracy
Abraham Lincoln, Preserver of the Union
National MonumentmemorialNational ParkBlack HillsKeystoneRapid CitySouth DakotaBorglumWashingtonLincolnRooseveltJeffersonDemocracy
Apparently I've adopted my fathers ability to squint for photos...
National MonumentmemorialNational ParkBlack HillsKeystoneRapid CitySouth DakotaBorglumWashingtonLincolnRooseveltJeffersonDemocracy
The original plans called for the figures to be completed to the waist...
National MonumentmemorialNational ParkBlack HillsKeystoneRapid CitySouth DakotaBorglumWashingtonLincolnRooseveltJeffersonDemocracy
Heading out on the Presidential Loop Trail which allows you to get right up under the monument...
National MonumentmemorialNational ParkBlack HillsKeystoneRapid CitySouth DakotaBorglumWashingtonLincolnRooseveltJeffersonDemocracy
A couple Yellow-bellied Marmots were scurrying about near the trailhead...
National MonumentmemorialNational ParkBlack HillsKeystoneRapid CitySouth DakotaBorglumWashingtonLincolnRooseveltJeffersonDemocracy
From the bottom of the blast pile...
National MonumentmemorialNational ParkBlack HillsKeystoneRapid CitySouth DakotaBorglumWashingtonLincolnRooseveltJeffersonDemocracy
Washington / Jefferson close-up...
National MonumentmemorialNational ParkBlack HillsKeystoneRapid CitySouth DakotaBorglumWashingtonLincolnRooseveltJeffersonDemocracy
Looking across to the viewing deck and visitor center from the trail...
National MonumentmemorialNational ParkBlack HillsKeystoneRapid CitySouth DakotaBorglumWashingtonLincolnRooseveltJeffersonDemocracy
Through breaks in the trees you could even see down east to the surrounding plains...
National MonumentmemorialNational ParkBlack HillsKeystoneRapid CitySouth DakotaBorglumWashingtonLincolnRooseveltJeffersonDemocracy
Towards the end of the loop the path winds its way through a boulder field via a series of twisting staircases...
National MonumentmemorialNational ParkBlack HillsKeystoneRapid CitySouth DakotaBorglumWashingtonLincolnRooseveltJeffersonDemocracy
I couldn't get the image of a giant stack of pancakes out of my head when passing this boulder...
National MonumentmemorialNational ParkBlack HillsKeystoneRapid CitySouth DakotaBorglumWashingtonLincolnRooseveltJeffersonDemocracy
One last look through the trees...
National MonumentmemorialNational ParkBlack HillsKeystoneRapid CitySouth DakotaBorglumWashingtonLincolnRooseveltJeffersonDemocracy
Passing a small shack housing one of the engines used in the carving we turned uphill back to the visitor center...
National MonumentmemorialNational ParkBlack HillsKeystoneRapid CitySouth DakotaBorglumWashingtonLincolnRooseveltJeffersonDemocracy