Exploring Mount Rushmore (and fun facts!)

Let’s explore Mount Rushmore!

In this episode of the Exploring the National Parks Podcast, we are focusing on the iconic and historic Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. 

We’re sharing some fun facts about Mount Rushmore and the different things you can do there beyond just parking, seeing the mountain, and leaving.

Join us as we cover: 

• The goblin-like name of the sculptor of Mount Rushmore
• The difference between the completed sculpture and the original design
• The size of the heads of the presidents
• Why this site was constructed
• How this mountain got its name
• What the creator was famous for before doing Mount Rushmore
• Why they chose the people they did for this mountain
• Fun things to do at Mount Rushmore

Listen to the Full Podcast Episode:

Mount Rushmore Overview

When most people visit Mount Rushmore, they typically park, look at the mountain, and then leave. But there is so much more you can do at Mount Rushmore, and there is so much history to learn about during your visit.

Mount Rushmore is a national memorial run by the National Park Service. This memorial features the faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln carved into the beautiful granite Black Hills of South Dakota.

Gutzon Borglum began carving Mount Rushmore in 1927, and it was completed 14 years later by Gutzon’s son, Lincoln.

Mount Rushmore Fun Facts

1: The Completed Sculpture Looks Different from the Original Design

The completed sculpture looks very different from the original proposed design. If you visit the Sculptor’s Studio, you’ll see a 1/12 scale of Mount Rushmore. There are actually four things that differ from the original model that Gutzon Borglum made and presented for approval before the carving process began.

1. Thomas Jefferson was originally supposed to be on George Washington’s right side. 
2. Full upper bodies with arms, hands, and jackets were all supposed to be visible. 
3. The four presidents were also supposed to be arranged differently.
4. There was meant to be a giant inscription next to the presidents up on the mountain.

2: The Carved Heads are Five Stories Tall

The heads of the presidents are as tall as five-story buildings. More specifically, George Washington’s head is 60 feet, and his nose is 21 feet. The magnitude of these carvings is especially impressive when you think about the fact that they were carved out of rock that is 1.6 billion years old. 

These carvings were made from granite, which is extremely strong, and it erodes really slowly. It erodes only one inch every 10,000 years. So, when you think about that, these carvings are even more impressive. They actually had to use dynamite for 90% of the rock they removed.

3: There IS a “Secret” Room Behind Mount Rushmore

Mount Rushmore was actually constructed in order to hide the fabled city of Gold – Cibola El Dorado. They constructed it to keep all the gold from falling into Confederate hands. Just kidding! But if you’ve seen National Treasure Two, you can draw your own conclusions about this.

Also, there is no lake behind Mount Rushmore. The lake you see in National Treasure Two is Sylvan Lake, which is located in Custer State Park. 

However, Gutzon Borglum actually did start to carve away a large space behind Mount Rushmore. It was never fully completed, but enough space was carved out to store a few things behind Abe Lincoln’s face! This area is known as the Hall of Records. It contains porcelain enamel panels that share the story of Mount Rushmore and a brief history of the United States….and maybe even the secret entrance to the fabled city of gold :) 

4: Mount Rushmore is Named After a Man Who Had Nothing to Do With the Sculpture

Mount Rushmore was named after Charles E. Rushmore, a New York City lawyer that took a few trips out west and became friends with some of the miners in the Black Hills of South Dakota. 

One day Mr. Rushmore and his friends were sitting at the base of a giant granite peak admiring it, and Mr. Rushmore asked one of his friends, “What’s the name of that mountain?” There wasn’t a name for the mountain, so one of them spoke up and said, “We’re going to name it right now.” They said they would call it Rushmore Peak or something along those lines.

Mr. Rushmore thought that was nice, but when he got back home to New York City, his friends back in South Dakota followed through on what they said. Eventually, the name of the mountain was recorded in the land office in Washington D.C., officially naming it Rushmore Peak, Rushmore Mountain, and Rushmore Rock.

5: Gutzon Borglum Was Already Well-Known for Carving People’s Heads Into Rocks

The sculptor of Mount Rushmore, Gutzon Borglum, was famous for carving a president’s head before he carved Mount Rushmore. Gutzon Borglum studied in Europe for a while, and he decided he wanted to develop a truly American form of art. He chose to work with the emotional impact of volume, meaning using really big blocks of stone to create larger-than-life pieces of art.

When he returned to America, he sculpted a massive head of Abraham Lincoln out of a large block of marble. When that was completed, people came from all over to see it on display in New York City. This led to sculptures of other political figures and leaders before ultimately taking him to South Dakota to oversee the sculpting of Mount Rushmore. 

6: Mount Rushmore Has Been Dedicated At Least Six Times

Mount Rushmore has been dedicated many times — no excuse to celebrate this massive stone carving is too small! Here are the dedication events that have taken place for Mount Rushmore:

1. Before work even started, it was dedicated in 1925 as a national memorial.
2. Calvin Coolidge dedicated it in 1927 with the first carving.
3. In 1930 it was dedicated when Washington’s face was finished.
4. It was dedicated in 1936 when Jefferson’s face was finished.
5. It was dedicated again in 1937 when Lincoln’s face was finished.
6. And lastly dedicated in 1939 when Roosevelt’s face was finished.

President Coolidge explained why these four presidents were chosen in his dedication speech.

• George Washington – “It is but natural that such a design should begin with George Washington. For, with him begins that which is truly characteristic of America. He represents our independence, our constitution, our liberty.”
• Thomas Jefferson – “He emphasized the element of self-government, which had been enshrined in American institutions in such a way as to demonstrate that it was practical and would be permanent.”
• Abraham Lincoln – “Lincoln believed his most sacred duty was the preservation of the union. It was his firm conviction that slavery must be abolished.”
• Teddy Roosevelt – “He strove to add economic freedom. By building the Panama Canal, he brought into closer relationship the east and west and realized the vision that inspired Columbus in his search for a new passage to the Orient.”

Important Information for Visiting Mount Rushmore

• Mount Rushmore is open year-round, but if you’re hoping to do more than look at the mountain and leave, you’ll want to visit outside of the winter months. I would try to plan your trip sometime between March-October.
• Mount Rushmore isn’t open 24/7. You’ll want to check the Operating Hours before you go to make sure the memorial is open for you!
• Mount Rushmore requires a parking fee. If you have an annual pass for other sites run by the National Park Service, be aware that your annual pass will not get you into the memorial.

Mount Rushmore Things to Do

• Self-guided tours are available for rent at the welcome area
• Walk through the Avenue of Flags
• Look out over Mount Rushmore from the Grandview Terrace
• Explore the Presidential Trail
• Check out the Sculptor’s Studio
• Pick up a junior ranger book for your kids
• Try Thomas Jefferson’s original vanilla ice cream
• Attend the Evening Lighting Ceremony

For more information about all of these things to do, as well as our favorite activities nearby, check out this detailed article.

If you want to beat the crowds and see all the best sights around the Black Hills, you’ll love this hour-by-hour itinerary for the South Dakota National Parks, including Mount Rushmore! You can learn more about the itinerary here.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Mount Rushmore Can’t-Miss List
• Mount Rushmore National Memorial
• Gutzon Borglum
• Sylvan Lake
• The Sculptor’s Studio
• Carving History
• Hall of Records
• Charles E. Rushmore
• Why These Four Presidents?
• Avenue of Flags
• Ranger Programs
• South Dakota Itinerary

Are you hoping to visit all of the national parks? Sign up for your FREE NATIONAL PARKS CHECKLIST so you can easily see where you’ve been and where you still need to go!

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