East of the Rocky Mountains in South Dakota's Black Hills is one of our country's most unusual, impressive and patriotic man-made monuments — the Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
The four figures carved in stone represent 150 years of American history and the devotion and commitment of a visionary many years ahead of his time — the sculptor, Gutzon Borglum, who began this enormous undertaking in 1927 when he started drilling into the mountain. The finished epic sculpture features the faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. These 60-foot high faces are 500 feet up the sheer rock bluff, overlooking a setting of pine, birch, spruce and aspen in the clear Western air.
There isn't a more exciting way to learn about these great men in our history and feel the impact of their powerful and gifted influences on our nation. The lengthy and stressful undertaking of this monument is a parallel to the obstacles facing the progress of our government under the leadership of these men. Observing the history of this sculpture's emergence from the bare rock is an overwhelmingly accurate metaphor for the achievements of these men, who led our country through equally difficult times.
During summer, when the sun goes down, the lights around the mountain come up: a lighting ceremony takes place at 9:00 p.m. at the monument's new amphitheater, This is an amazing sight and that everyone should take time to see while visiting the Mt. Rushmore area.
