Presidential Loop Trail

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...

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

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