Mount Rushmore National Memorial
IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
(left to right) Sculptures of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln represent the first 150 years of the history of the United States.
Location	South Dakota, USA
Nearest city	Rapid City, South Dakota
Coordinates	43°52′44.21″N 103°27′35.37″W / 43.8789472, -103.459825
Area	1,278.45 acres (5.17 km²)
Established	March 3, 1925
Visitors	2,757,971 (in 2006)
Governing body	National Park Service

Mount Rushmore National Memorial, near Keystone, South Dakota, is a monumental granite sculpture located within the United States Presidential Memorial that represents the first 150 years of the history of the United States of America with 60-foot (18 m) sculptures of the heads of former United States presidents: George Washington (1732-1799), Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919), and Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865).^[1] The entire memorial covers 1,278 acres (5.17 km²),^[2] and is 5,725 feet (1,745 m) above sea level.^[3] It is managed by the National Park Service, a bureau of the United States Department of the Interior. The memorial attracts approximately 2 million people annually.^[4] Mount Rushmore was a rock band in the late 1960s from San Francisco, California that played a heavy blues rock style with psychedelic elements. ... The World Conservation Union or International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) is an international organization dedicated to natural resource conservation. ... Image File history File links Mountrushmore. ... George Washington (February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799)[1] led Americas Continental Army to victory over Britain in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and in 1789 was elected the first President of the United States of America. ... Thomas Jefferson (13 April 1743 N.S.–4 July 1826) was the third President of the United States (1801–09), the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776), and one of the most influential Founding Fathers for his promotion of the ideals of Republicanism in the United States. ... Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. ... For other uses, see Abraham Lincoln (disambiguation). ... Official language(s) English Capital Pierre Largest city Sioux Falls Area  Ranked 17th  - Total 77,116[1] sq mi (199,905 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 380 miles (610 km)  - % water 1. ... Rapid City is a city located in the western part of South Dakota and is second largest city in the state of South Dakota after Sioux Falls. ... is the 62nd day of the year (63rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1925 (MCMXXV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The National Park Service (NPS) is the United States federal agency that manages all National Parks, many National Monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations. ... Keystone is a town located in the Black Hills of Pennington County, South Dakota. ... Official language(s) English Capital Pierre Largest city Sioux Falls Area  Ranked 17th  - Total 77,116[1] sq mi (199,905 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 380 miles (610 km)  - % water 1. ... For other uses, see granite (disambiguation). ... United States presidential memorials are created to honor and perpetuate the legacy of United States presidents. ... American history redirects here. ... Sculptor redirects here. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      For other uses, see President of the United States (disambiguation). ... George Washington (February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799)[1] led Americas Continental Army to victory over Britain in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and in 1789 was elected the first President of the United States of America. ... Thomas Jefferson (13 April 1743 N.S.–4 July 1826) was the third President of the United States (1801–09), the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776), and one of the most influential Founding Fathers for his promotion of the ideals of Republicanism in the United States. ... Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. ... For other uses, see Abraham Lincoln (disambiguation). ... The National Park Service (NPS) is the United States federal agency that manages all National Parks, many National Monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations. ... The United States Department of the Interior (DOI) is a Cabinet department of the United States government that manages and conserves most federally owned land. ...

History

The carving of Mount Rushmore involved the use of dynamite, followed by the process of "honeycombing".

Originally known to the Lakota Sioux as Six Grandfathers, the mountain was renamed after Charles E. Rushmore, a prominent New York lawyer, during an expedition in 1885.^[5] At first, the project of carving Rushmore was undertaken to increase tourism in the Black Hills region of South Dakota. After long negotiations involving a Congressional delegation and President Calvin Coolidge, the project received Congressional approval. The carving started in 1927, and ended in 1941 with a few injuries and no deaths.^[4] Image File history File links MtRushmore_sculpting. ... Image File history File links MtRushmore_sculpting. ... Dynamite is an explosive based on the explosive potential of nitroglycerin, initially using diatomaceous earth (kieselguhr) as an adsorbent. ... Eddie Plenty Holes, a Sioux Indian photographed about 1899. ... The Sioux (pronounced ) are a Native American and First Nations people. ... Charles E. Rushmore was an American businessman and attorney. ... This article is about the state. ... This article is about the place in South Dakota. ... Type Bicameral Houses Senate House of Representatives President of the Senate President pro tempore Dick Cheney, (R) since January 20, 2001 Robert C. Byrd, (D) since January 4, 2007 Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, (D) since January 4, 2007 Members 535 plus 4 Delegates and 1 Resident Commissioner Political... John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. ...

As Six Grandfathers, the mountain was part of the route that Lakota leader Black Elk took in a spiritual journey that culminated at Harney Peak. Following a series of military campaigns from 1876 to 1877, the United States asserted territorial control over the area, a claim that is still disputed on the basis of the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie (see Controversy below). Among white American settlers, the peak was known variously as Cougar Mountain, Sugarloaf Mountain, Slaughterhouse Mountain, and Keystone Cliffs. It was named Mount Rushmore during a prospecting expedition by Rushmore, David Swanzey (whose wife Carrie was the sister of author Laura Ingalls Wilder), and Bill Challis.^[6] Black Elk (Hehaka Sapa) (c. ... Harney Peak is the highest mountain in South Dakota, located in Black Hills National Forest. ... For wars involving India, see Military history of India. ... Treaty signing by William T. Sherman and the Sioux at Fort Laramie, Wyoming. ... Carrie Ingalls Caroline Celestia Carrie Ingalls Swanzey (August 3, 1870–June 2, 1946) was the third child of Charles and Caroline Ingalls, and was born in Montgomery County, Kansas. ... Laura Ingalls Wilder (February 7, 1867 – February 10, 1957) was an American author. ...

Historian Doane Robinson conceived the idea for Mount Rushmore in 1923 to promote tourism in South Dakota. In 1924, Robinson persuaded sculptor Gutzon Borglum to travel to the Black Hills region to ensure that the carving could be accomplished. Borglum had been involved in sculpting a massive bas-relief memorial to Confederate leaders on Stone Mountain in Georgia but was in disagreement with the officials there.^[6] The original plan was to perform the carvings in granite pillars known as the Needles. However, Borglum realized that that plan was impossible because the eroded Needles were too thin to support sculpting. He chose Mount Rushmore, a grander spot, partly because it faced southeast and enjoyed maximum exposure to the sun. Borglum said upon seeing Mount Rushmore, "America will march along that skyline."^[7] Congress authorized the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Commission on March 3, 1925.^[7] President Coolidge insisted that along with Washington, two Republicans and one Democrat be portrayed.^[8] Mount Rushmore Jonah LeRoy Doane Robinson (October 19, 1856 - 1946) was a state historian of South Dakota who conceived of the idea for the Mount Rushmore National Memorial. ... The United States of America has a large and lucrative tourism industry serving millions of international and domestic tourists. ... Mt Rushmore, Black Hills, South Dakota (John) Gutzon Borglum (March 25, 1867 –March 6, 1941). ... Bas relief is a method of sculpting which entails carving or etching away the surface of a flat piece of stone or metal. ... Motto Deo Vindice (Latin: Under God, Our Vindicator) Anthem (none official) God Save the South (unofficial) The Bonnie Blue Flag (unofficial) Dixie (unofficial) Capital Montgomery, Alabama (until May 29, 1861) Richmond, Virginia (May 29, 1861–April 2, 1865) Danville, Virginia (from April 3, 1865) Language(s) English (de facto) Religion... This article is about Stone Mountain in Georgia, USA. For other uses, see Stone Mountain (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see granite (disambiguation). ... The Needles of the Black Hills of South Dakota are a region of fantastically eroded granite pillars, towers, and spires. ... Type Bicameral Houses Senate House of Representatives President of the Senate President pro tempore Dick Cheney, (R) since January 20, 2001 Robert C. Byrd, (D) since January 4, 2007 Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, (D) since January 4, 2007 Members 535 plus 4 Delegates and 1 Resident Commissioner Political... is the 62nd day of the year (63rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1925 (MCMXXV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Between October 4, 1927 and October 31, 1941, Gutzon Borglum and 400 workers sculpted the colossal 60-foot (18 m) carvings of U.S. presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln to represent the first 150 years of American history. These presidents were selected by Borglum because of their role in preserving the Republic and expanding its territory.^[7][9] The image of Thomas Jefferson was originally intended to appear in the area at Washington's right, but after the work there was begun, the rock was found unsuitable, so this figure was moved to Washington's left. is the 277th day of the year (278th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 304th day of the year (305th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see 1941 (disambiguation). ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      For other uses, see President of the United States (disambiguation). ... George Washington (February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799)[1] led Americas Continental Army to victory over Britain in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and in 1789 was elected the first President of the United States of America. ... Thomas Jefferson (13 April 1743 N.S.–4 July 1826) was the third President of the United States (1801–09), the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776), and one of the most influential Founding Fathers for his promotion of the ideals of Republicanism in the United States. ... Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. ... For other uses, see Abraham Lincoln (disambiguation). ...

In 1933, the National Park Service took Mount Rushmore under its jurisdiction. Engineer Julian Spotts helped with the project by improving its infrastructure. For example, he had the tram upgraded so that it could reach the top of Mount Rushmore for the ease of workers. By July 4, 1934, Washington's face had been completed and was dedicated. The face of Thomas Jefferson was dedicated in 1936, and the face of Abraham Lincoln was dedicated on September 17, 1937. In 1937, a bill was introduced in Congress to add the head of civil-rights leader Susan B. Anthony, but a rider was passed on an appropriations bill requiring that federal funds be used to finish only those heads that had already been started at that time.^[10] In 1939, the face of Theodore Roosevelt was dedicated. is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display full 1934 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 260th day of the year (261st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Susan B. Anthony (disambiguation). ... In legislative practice, a rider is an additional provision annexed to a bill under the consideration of a legislature, having little connection with the subject matter of the bill. ...

A model at the site depicting Mount Rushmore's intended final design. Insufficient funding forced the carving to end in October 1941.

The Sculptor's Studio—a display of unique plaster models and tools related to the sculpting—was built in 1939 under the direction of Borglum. Borglum died from an embolism in March 1941. His son, Lincoln Borglum, continued the project. Originally, it was planned that the figures would be carved from head to waist,^[11] but insufficient funding forced the carving to end.^[7] Borglum had also planned a massive panel in the shape of the Louisiana Purchase commemorating in eight-foot-tall gilded letters the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, Louisiana Purchase, and seven other territorial acquisitions from Alaska to Texas to the Panama Canal Zone.^[9] Image File history File links Mountrushmorephoto. ... Image File history File links Mountrushmorephoto. ... An embolism occurs when an object (the embolus, plural emboli) migrates from one part of the body (through circulation) and cause(s) a blockage (occlusion) of a blood vessel in another part of the body. ... James Lincoln de la Mothe Borglum (April 9, 1912 – January 27, 1986) was an American sculptor, photographer, author and engineer; he was best known for overseeing the completion of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial after the death in 1941 of the projects leader, his father Gutzon Borglum. ... For the musical, see Louisiana Purchase (musical) and Louisiana Purchase (film). ... The United States Declaration of Independence was an act of the Second Continental Congress, adopted on July 4, 1776, which declared that the Thirteen Colonies in North America were Free and Independent States and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to... Wikisource has original text related to this article: The United States Constitution The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. ... Check used to pay for Alaska The Alaska purchase from Russia by the United States occurred in 1867 at the behest of Secretary of State William Seward. ... Republic of Texas The Texas Annexation of 1845 was the voluntary annexation of the Republic of Texas by the United States of America as Texas, the 28th state, and additional land that later became major parts of the states of New Mexico and Colorado, where the headwaters of the Rio... The Panama Canal Zone (Spanish: ), was a 553 square mile (1,432 km²) territory inside of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles (8. ...

The entire project cost USD$989,992.32.^[12] Notably for a project of such size, no workers died during the carving.^[13] USD redirects here. ...

On October 15, 1966, Mount Rushmore was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. An essay from Nebraska student William Andrew Burkett, selected as the winner for the college-age group in 1934, was placed on the Entablature on a bronze plate in 1973.^[10] In 1991, President George H. W. Bush officially dedicated Mount Rushmore. is the 288th day of the year (289th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. ... A typical plaque showing entry on the National Register of Historic Places. ... Official language(s) English Capital Lincoln Largest city Omaha Largest metro area Omaha Area  Ranked 16th  - Total 77,421 sq mi (200,520 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 430 miles (690 km)  - % water 0. ... George Herbert Walker Bush (born June 12, 1924) was the 41st President of the United States, serving from 1989 to 1993. ...

In a canyon behind the carved faces is a chamber, cut only 70 feet (21 m) into the rock, containing a vault with sixteen porcelain enamel panels. The panels include the text of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, biographies of the four presidents and Borglum, and the history of the U.S. The chamber was created as the entrance way to a planned "Hall of Records"; the vault was installed in 1998. ^[14]

Ten years of redevelopment work culminated with the completion of extensive visitor facilities and sidewalks in 1998, such as a Visitor Center, Museum, and the Presidential Trail. Maintenance of the memorial annually requires mountain climbers to monitor and seal cracks. The memorial is not cleaned to remove lichens. It has been cleaned only once. On July 8, 2005, Kärcher GmbH, a German manufacturer of cleaning machines, conducted a free cleanup operation; the washing used pressurized water at over 200 °F (95 °C).^[15] For other things named Lichen, see: Lichen (disambiguation). ... is the 189th day of the year (190th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. ... For other uses, see Fahrenheit (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Celsius (disambiguation). ...

Controversy

Air Force One flying over Mt. Rushmore

Mount Rushmore is controversial among Native Americans because the United States seized the area from the Lakota tribe after the Black Hills War in 1876–77. The Treaty of Fort Laramie from 1868 had previously granted the Black Hills to the Lakota in perpetuity. The Lakota consider the hills to be sacred, although historians believe the Lakota also gained control of the hills by force, displacing the Cheyenne in 1776. Members of the American Indian Movement led an occupation of the monument in 1971, naming it "Mount Crazy Horse." Among the participants were young activists, grandparents, children and Lakota holy man John Fire Lame Deer, who planted a prayer staff atop the mountain. Lame Deer said the staff formed a symbolic shroud over the presidents' faces "which shall remain dirty until the treaties concerning the Black Hills are fulfilled."^[16] Download high resolution version (1500x1206, 840 KB)United States Air Force photograph of Air Force One flying over Mount Rushmore. ... Download high resolution version (1500x1206, 840 KB)United States Air Force photograph of Air Force One flying over Mount Rushmore. ... For the current aircraft, see Boeing VC-25. ... This article is about the people indigenous to the United States. ... Eddie Plenty Holes, a Sioux Indian photographed about 1899. ... The Black Hills War was a United States civil war between the Lakota Native American tribe and the United States government from 1876 until 1877. ... Treaty signing by William T. Sherman and the Sioux at Fort Laramie, Wyoming. ... For other uses, see Cheyenne (disambiguation). ... AIM logo AIM flag The American Indian Movement (AIM), is a Native American activist organization in the United States. ... An occupation, as an act of protest, is the entry into and holding of a building, space or symbolic site. ... Lame Deer is a census-designated place located in Rosebud County, Montana. ...

The Monument remains controversial among Native Americans, even after the appointment of Gerard Baker, the first Native American superintendent of the park, in 2004.^[17] The Crazy Horse Memorial is being constructed elsewhere in the Black Hills to commemorate a famous Native American leader and as a response to Mount Rushmore. It is intended to be larger than Mount Rushmore and has the support of Lakota chiefs; the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation has rejected offers of federal funds. However, this memorial is likewise the subject of controversy, especially within the Native American community. Foreground: 1:34 scale model of Crazy Horse Memorial. ... ...

Racist Links

The Monument also holds controversy in the alleged idea of an underlying theme of racial superiority legitimized by the idea of Manifest Destiny. The mountains have been carved with Borglum's choice of four presidents active during the time of the acquisition of Indian land. Gutzon Borglum himself holds much controversy as he was an active member of the Ku Klux Klan. ^[17] This article is about the history and influence of the concept. ... Members of the second Ku Klux Klan at a rally during the 1920s. ...

Ecology

The Black Hills opposite Mount Rushmore

The flora and fauna of Mount Rushmore are similar to those of the rest of the Black Hills region of South Dakota. Birds including the turkey vulture, bald eagle, hawk, and meadowlark fly around Mount Rushmore, occasionally making nesting spots in the ledges of the mountain. Smaller birds, including songbirds, nuthatches, and woodpeckers, inhabit the surrounding pine forests. Terrestrial mammals include the mouse, chipmunk, squirrel, skunk, porcupine, raccoon, beaver, badger, coyote, bighorn sheep and bobcat. In addition, several species of frogs and snakes inhabit the region. The two brooks in the memorial, the Grizzly Bear and Starling Basin brooks, support fish such as the longnose dace and the brook trout.^[18] Some endemic animals are not indigenous to the area; the mountain goats are descended from goats which were a gift from Canada to Custer State Park in 1924 but later escaped.^[19] Image File history File links IM000704_(2). ... Image File history File links IM000704_(2). ... This article is about the place in South Dakota. ... Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1758) Approximate range/distribution map of the Turkey Vulture. ... Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1766) Bald Eagle range  Resident, breeding Summer visitor, breeding Winter visitor On migration only Star: accidental records Subspecies (Linnaeus, 1766) Southern Bald Eagle (Audubon, 1827) Northern Bald Eagle Synonyms Falco leucocephalus Linnaeus, 1766 The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is a bird of prey found in North America... Genera Accipiter Micronisus Melierax Urotriorchis Erythrotriorchis The term hawk refers to birds of prey in any of three senses: Strictly, to mean any of the species in the bird sub-family Accipitrinae in the genera Accipiter, Micronisus, Melierax, Urotriorchis, and Megatriorchis. ... Species Meadowlarks are birds belonging to the genus Sturnella in the New World family Icteridae. ... For other uses, see Nest (disambiguation). ... Species 22 species, see text The nuthatches are a family, Sittidae, of generally very similar small passerine birds found throughout the Northern hemisphere. ... Genera Melanerpes Sphyrapicus Xiphidiopicus Dendropicos Dendrocopos Picoides Veniliornis Campethera Geocolaptes Dinopium Meiglyptes Hemicircus Micropternus Picus Mulleripicus Dryocopus Celeus Piculus Colaptes Campephilus Chrysocolaptes Reinwardtipicus Blythipicus Gecinulus Sapheopipo For other uses, see Woodpecker (disambiguation). ... This article is about the animal. ... Chipmunks like cheese and crackers. ... This article is about the animal. ... Polecat redirects here. ... This article is about the rodent mammal. ... Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1758) Common Raccoon native range in red, feral range in blue. ... For other uses, see Beaver (disambiguation). ... Genera  Arctonyx  Melogale  Meles  Mellivora  Taxidea For other uses, see Badger (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Coyote (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Shaw, 1804 Synonyms Desmarest Cuvier[1] Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis)[2] is one of three species of mountain sheep in North America and Siberia; the other two species being Ovis dalli, that includes Dall Sheep and Stones Sheep, and the Siberian Snow sheep Ovis nivicola. ... For other uses, see Bobcat (disambiguation). ... Distribution of frogs (in black) Suborders Archaeobatrachia Mesobatrachia Neobatrachia - List of Anuran families The frogness babe is an amphibian in the order Anura (meaning tail-less from Greek an-, without + oura, tail), formerly referred to as Salientia (Latin saltare, to jump). ... For other uses, see Snake (disambiguation). ... A dace is any of a number of species of small cyprinid fish. ... This article is about the species of fish. ... Rocky Mountain Goat and Mountain Goats redirect here. ... Custer State Park is a state park in South Dakota. ...

At lower elevations, coniferous trees, mainly the Ponderosa pine, surround most of the monument, providing shade from the sun. Other trees include the bur oak, the Black Hills spruce, and the cottonwood. Nine species of shrubs live near Mount Rushmore. There is also a wide variety of wildflowers, including especially the snapdragon, sunflower, and violet. Towards higher elevations, plant life becomes sparser.^[19] However, only approximately 5% of the plant species found in the Black Hills are indigenous to the region.^[20] Orders & Families Cordaitales † Pinales   Pinaceae - Pine family   Araucariaceae - Araucaria family   Podocarpaceae - Yellow-wood family   Sciadopityaceae - Umbrella-pine family   Cupressaceae - Cypress family   Cephalotaxaceae - Plum-yew family   Taxaceae - Yew family Vojnovskyales † Voltziales † “Conifer” redirects here. ... Binomial name Pinus ponderosa Douglas ex C. Lawson Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa) is a widespread and very variable pine native to western North America. ... Binomial name Quercus macrocarpa Michx. ... Species About 35; see text. ... Species Populus deltoides L. Populus fremontii [[]] Populus nigra L. This article is about the poplar species. ... For the Transformers character, see Snapdragon (Transformers). ... For other uses, see Sunflower (disambiguation). ... Species List of Viola species Violets (Viola) are a genus of flowering plants in the family Violaceae, with around 400-500 species throughout the world, mainly in the temperate Northern Hemisphere but also in Hawaii, Australasia, and the Andes in South America. ...

Though the area receives about 18 inches (460 mm) of precipitation on average per year, alone it is not enough to support the abundant animal and plant life. Trees and other plants help to control surface runoff. Dikes, seeps, and springs help to dam up water that is flowing downhill, providing watering spots for animals. In addition, stones like sandstone and limestone help to hold groundwater, creating aquifers.^[21] Runoff flowing into a stormwater drain Surface runoff is water, from rain, snowmelt, or other sources, that flows over the land surface, and is a major component of the water cycle[1][2]. Runoff that occurs on surfaces before reaching a channel is also called overland flow. ... Red sandstone interior of Lower Antelope Canyon, Arizona, worn smooth due to erosion by flash flooding over millions of years Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-size mineral or rock grains. ... For other uses, see Limestone (disambiguation). ... Groundwater is water located beneath the ground surface in soil pore spaces and in the fractures of lithologic formations. ... An aquifer is an underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock or unconsolidated materials (gravel, sand, silt, or clay) from which groundwater can be usefully extracted using a water well. ...

Forest fires occur in the Ponderosa forests surrounding Mount Rushmore around every 27 years. This was determined from fire scars in tree core samples. These help to clean forest debris located on the ground. Large conflagrations are rare, but have occurred in the past.^[22] Fire in San Bernardino, California Mountains (image taken from the International Space Station) A wildfire, also known as a forest fire, vegetation fire, grass fire, or bushfire (in Australasia), is an uncontrolled fire in wildland often caused by lightning; other common causes are human carelessness and arson. ...

Geology

Mt. Rushmore, showing the full size of the mountain and the scree of debris from construction.

Mount Rushmore is largely composed of granite. The memorial is carved on the northwest margin of the Harney Peak granite batholith in the Black Hills of South Dakota, so the geologic formations of the heart of the Black Hills region are also evident at Mount Rushmore. The batholith magma intruded into the pre-existing mica schist rocks during the Precambrian period about 1.6 billion years ago.^[23] However, the uneven cooling of the molten rock caused the formation of both fine and coarse-grained minerals, including quartz, feldspar, muscovite, and biotite. Fractures in the granite were sealed by pegmatite dikes. The light-colored streaks in the presidents' foreheads are due to these dikes. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2580x1932, 1564 KB) Photo taken by Colin Faulkingha on 07/27/2005 of Mt Rushmore. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2580x1932, 1564 KB) Photo taken by Colin Faulkingha on 07/27/2005 of Mt Rushmore. ... Scree or detritic cone is a term given to broken rock that appears at the bottom of crags, mountain cliffs or valley shoulders. ... For other uses, see granite (disambiguation). ... Harney Peak is the highest mountain in South Dakota, located in Black Hills National Forest. ... Half Dome, a granite monolith in Yosemite National Park and part of the Sierra Nevada batholith. ... Magma is molten rock located beneath the surface of the Earth (or any other terrestrial planet), and which often collects in a magma chamber. ... Rock with mica Mica sheet Mica flakes The mica group of sheet silicate minerals includes several closely related materials having highly perfect basal cleavage. ... Schist The schists form a group of medium-grade metamorphic rocks, chiefly notable for the preponderance of lamellar minerals such as micas, chlorite, talc, hornblende, graphite, and others. ... The Precambrian (Pre-Cambrian) is an informal name for the supereon comprising the eons of the geologic timescale that came before the current Phanerozoic eon. ... For other uses, see Quartz (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the mineral. ... A Biotite slice Biotite is a common phyllosilicate mineral that contains potassium, magnesium, iron and aluminium. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A dike in geology refers to a tabular intrusive igneous body. ...

The Black Hills granites were exposed to erosion during the late Precambrian, but were buried by sandstones and other sediments during the Cambrian Period. The area remained buried throughout the Paleozoic Era, but was exposed again to erosion during the tectonic uplift about 70 million years ago.^[23] The Black Hills area was uplifted as an elongated geologic dome which towered some 20,000 feet (6 km) above sea level, but erosion wore the area down to only 4,000 feet (1.2 km).^[24] The subsequent natural erosion of this mountain range allowed the carvings by stripping the granite of the overlying sediments and the softer adjacent schists. The contact between the granite and darker schist is viewable just below the sculpture of Washington. For morphological image processing operations, see Erosion (morphology). ... Red sandstone interior of Lower Antelope Canyon, Arizona, worn smooth due to erosion by flash flooding over millions of years Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-size mineral or rock grains. ... For other uses, see Cambrian (disambiguation). ... The Paleozoic Era (from the Greek palaio, old and zoion, animals, meaning ancient life) is the earliest of three geologic eras of the Phanerozoic eon. ... The tectonic plates of the world were mapped in the second half of the 20th century. ...

Borglum selected Mount Rushmore as the site for several reasons. The rock of the mountain is composed of smooth, fine-grained granite. The durable granite erodes only 1 inch (2.5 cm) every 10,000 years, indicating that it was sturdy enough to support sculpting.^[7] In addition, it was the tallest mountain in the region, looming to a height of 5,725 feet (1,745 m) above sea level.^[3] Because the mountain faces the southeast, the workers also had the advantage of sunlight for most of the day.

Tourism

The entrance to the site

Tourism is South Dakota's second-largest industry, with Mount Rushmore being its number one tourist attraction. In 2004, over 2 million visitors traveled to the memorial.^[4] The Site is also home to the final concerts of Rushmore Music Camp and attracts many visitors over the week of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 358 pixelsFull resolution (3000 × 1342 pixels, file size: 2. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 358 pixelsFull resolution (3000 × 1342 pixels, file size: 2. ... Motorcycles lined up on Main Street during the Sturgis motorcycle rally. ...

The Lincoln Borglum Museum is located in the memorial. It features two 125-seat theaters that show a 13-minute movie about Mount Rushmore. One of the best viewpoints is located at Grandview Terrace, above the Museum. The Presidential Trail, a walking trail and boardwalk, starts at Grandview Terrace and winds through the Ponderosa pine forests to the Sculptor's Studio, providing close-up views of the memorial. The Sculptor's studio was built by Gutzon Borglum, and features discussion about the construction of the monument as well as the tools used. The amphitheater also has a 30-minute program at dusk that describes the construction of the memorial. Following that, the mountain is illuminated for two hours.^[25] Binomial name Pinus ponderosa Douglas ex C. Lawson Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa) is a widespread and very variable pine native to western North America. ... Mt Rushmore, Black Hills, South Dakota (John) Gutzon Borglum (March 25, 1867 –March 6, 1941). ...

Appearances in popular culture

Mount Rushmore as depicted on the South Dakota state quarter

Because it has large carved faces, appearances of Mount Rushmore in the media often include a replacement of one or more of the four presidents' faces with other people or characters. In Superman II, General Zod and his criminal partners use their superpowers to replace three of the carvings with their own faces and wipe out the fourth. Similarly, in Mars Attacks!, the Martians in a UFO carve their faces into Mount Rushmore, replacing the Presidents' heads. Deep Purple's album In Rock has a cover inspired by Mount Rushmore depicting the five members' faces instead of the four presidents. The cover of the Chipmunks' album, Chipmunk Rock, depicts Roosevelt replaced by Alvin Chipmunk. In the Red Dwarf novel Better Than Life, Dave Lister finds Mount Rushmore half-buried underneath garbage, which causes him to realize he is back on Earth. The mountain has had a fifth face carved into it, that of fictional president Elaine Salinger. In the popular manga and anime series Naruto, a similar monument inspired by Mount Rushmore is shown, depicting the first four, later five, hokage, or leaders, of Konohagakure Village. In the Justice League Adventures comics, Superman is shown as going to Mount Rushmore to seek solitude on at least one occasion. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2000x2000, 1227 KB) The reverse side of the South Dakota State Quarter. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2000x2000, 1227 KB) The reverse side of the South Dakota State Quarter. ... Obverse of redesigned quarter The 50 State Quarters program is the release of a series of commemorative coins by the United States Mint. ... Superman II is the 1980 sequel to the 1978 superhero film Superman. ... This article is about the film. ... This article is about hypothetical native inhabitants of the planet Mars. ... UFO redirects here. ... This article is about the rock band. ... Deep Purple in Rock is a hard rock album by English rock band Deep Purple, released in 1970. ... For the upcoming live-action/computer-generated film, see Alvin and the Chipmunks (film). ... Chipmunk Rock is a childrens album by The Chipmunks featuring covers of various rock hits, mostly from the late 70s and early 80s. ... Ross Bagdasarian, Jr. ... Red dwarfs constitute the majority of all stars According to the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, a red dwarf star is a small and relatively cool star, of the main sequence, either late K or M spectral type. ... Better Than Life is a major concept in the Red Dwarf canon. ... For the origami historian, see David Lister (Origami Historian). ... This article is about the comics published in East Asian countries. ... Animé redirects here. ... Serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump Shonen Jump BANZAI! Shonen Jump Weekly Comic Original run November 1999 – Ongoing No. ... Naruto Ninja Ranks In the Naruto Anime/Manga, characters who are part of Hidden Villages undergo qualifications to be Ninjas. ... Forest of Death redirects here. ... Justice League Adventures #12. ... Superman is a fictional character and comic book superhero , originally created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian artist Joe Shuster and published by DC Comics. ...

Beginning in 1975, Mount Rushmore has been referenced, featured and spoofed by the Muppets on over half a dozen separate occasions. It is featured, amongst others, in Team America: World Police as the Team America headquarters. For the slang term, see Muppet (slang). ... Team America: World Police Team America: World Police is a 2004 movie by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of the Comedy Central television program South Park. ...

The memorial was famously used as the location of the climactic chase scene in Alfred Hitchcock's movie North by Northwest, which incorrectly depicted a forested plateau and the villain's house atop the monument. However, the scene was not actually filmed at the monument, since permission to shoot an attempted killing on the face of a national monument was refused by the Park Service. Close-ups were shot on a set. Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock KBE (August 13, 1899 â€“ April 29, 1980) was an iconic and highly influential British-born film director and producer who pioneered many techniques in the suspense and thriller genres. ... This article is about motion pictures. ... North by Northwest (1959) is a comic thriller by Alfred Hitchcock produced at MGM. It was premiered in the San Sebastian International Film Festival. ...

The Washington Nationals baseball club uses large foam rubber depictions of the "Rushmore Four" in both their marketing campaigns & in a series of in-stadium promotions, which include the Racing Presidents. George, Abe, TJ and Teddy appear in the fourth inning of home games at RFK Stadium. That tradition will continue at the new Nationals Park. To date, the Teddy character has never won a Racing Presidents event, causing Nationals fans to chant his name in the hope that the race they view will be Teddy's first win. Major league affiliations National League (1969–present) East Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 42 Name Washington Nationals (2005–present) Montreal Expos (1969-2004) Other nicknames The Nats Ballpark Nationals Ballpark (2008–present) RFK Stadium 2005-2007 Hiram Bithorn Stadium[3] (San Juan) (2003-2004) Olympic Stadium (Montreal) (1977...

Notes and references

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Further reading

• The National Parks: Index 2001–2003. Washington: U.S. Department of the Interior.
• Taliaferro, John. Great White Fathers: The Story of the Obsessive Quest to Create Mount Rushmore. New York: PublicAffairs, c2002. Puts the creation of the monument into a historical and cultural context.
• Larner, Jesse (Jesse Larner). Mount Rushmore: An Icon Reconsidered New York: Nation Books, 2002.

The United States Department of the Interior (DOI) is a Cabinet department of the United States government that manages and conserves most federally owned land. ... Jesse Larner (born November 2, 1963) is a New York-based writer on politics and culture. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

• Official Site
• The Making of Mount Rushmore
• Climate
• A Monumental Achievement
• Google Map Link
• Matthew Buckingham, The Six Grandfathers, Paha Sapa, in the Year 502,002 C.E.
• Mount Rushmore Cam

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