The designer, sculptor Gutzon Borglum (1867-1941) and a crew of up to 400 men used dynamite, pneumatic jackhammers, and chisels to carve the massive heads. The construction began October 4, 1927 and received US government help beginning in 1933. The individual heads were dedicated as completed, and the entire structure declared completed by October 31, 1941, 7 months after Borglum's death.I
Gutzon Borglum
He started in 1927 and worked on it until 1941.
It was Doane Robinson's idea to create colossal carvings in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Doane Robinson invited Gutzon Borglum to the Black Hills to talk about the carvings. During his visits to the Black Hills, Gutzon Borglum found Mount Rushmore. It was also Gutzon's idea to carve the president's faces on Mount Rushmore.
Mount Rushmore is used to promote tourism in South Dakota. South Dakota State Historian Doane Robinson had the idea to carve the likenesses of western heroes in the Black Hills to promote tourism. His idea was to carve the Needles. Doane Robinson contacted Gutzon Borglum about a carving in the Black Hills. Gutzon Borglum chose Mount Rushmore instead because of the poor quality of granite in the Needles. Gutzon also thought it would be better for the sculpture to have a more national focus and chose the four presidents to carve on Mount Rushmore.
Gutzon Borglum
South Dakota State Historian Doane Robinson wrote a letter to Gutzon Borglum asking him to visit South Dakota so they could discuss the project. Borglum responded with a telegram that he was interested and would come visit. Doane Robinson and Gutzon Borglum met twice in the Black Hills. On the second trip, in 1925, Borglum found Mount Rushmore and knew that was the mountain he wanted to carve, no wheedling needed! Gutzon Borglum had been working on the Stone Mountain project in Georgia, but he was dismissed from that project which made him available for the Mount Rushmore project. More information and a copy of the first letter from Doane Robinson to Gutzon Borglum and a copy of Borglum's reply telegram can be found at the National Park Service's Mount Rushmore web site - see Related Links.
South Dakota State Historian Doane Robinson wrote a letter to Gutzon Borglum asking him to visit South Dakota so they could discuss the project. Borglum responded with a telegram that he was interested and would come visit. Doane Robinson and Gutzon Borglum met twice in the Black Hills. On the second trip, in 1925, Borglum found Mount Rushmore and knew that was the mountain he wanted to carve, no wheedling needed! Gutzon Borglum had been working on the Stone Mountain project in Georgia, but he was dismissed from that project which made him available for the Mount Rushmore project. More information and a copy of the first letter from Doane Robinson to Gutzon Borglum and a copy of Borglum's reply telegram can be found at the National Park Service's Mount Rushmore web site - see Related Links.
Carving began on October 4, 1927. Borglum died March 6, 1941 before completing the sculpture. His son finished the work by October 31, 1941.
Doane Robinson is known as the "Father of Mount Rushmore." It was his idea for colossal carvings in the Black Hills. He wanted to create an attraction that would draw people from all over the country to his state. In August of 1924 he contacted Gutzon Borglum who was working at Stone Mountain, GA on the face of Robert E. Lee. In his letter Robinson invited Borglum to visit South Dakota and talk over the possibility of carving a mountain. Borglum took Robinson up on his offer and met with him during September of 1924 and again in August of 1925. During this second trip Borglum found Mount Rushmore. From that point on Robinson worked diligently to secure funding for the project. Doane Robinson's idea was a success.
The idea for carvings in the Black Hills in South Dakota came from Doane Robinson, South Dakota's State Historian. Doane invited Gutzon Borglum to the Black Hills in South Dakota to discuss his idea and see if Gutzon would be interested in doing the carvings. On his second visit, Gutzon Borglum found Mount Rushmore and agreed to do the carving and Doane Robinson agreed to work to fund the project.
South Dakota State Historian Doane Robinson had the idea to carve the likenesses of western heroes in the Black Hills to promote tourism. His idea was to carve the Needles. Doane Robinson contacted Gutzon Borglum about a carving in the Black Hills. Gutzon Borglum chose Mount Rushmore instead because of the poor quality of granite in the Needles. Gutzon also thought it would be better for the sculpture to have a more national focus and chose the four presidents to carve on Mount Rushmore. Construction on the mountain began on October 4, 1927 and was stopped on October 31, 1941.
No. There were over 400 people who worked on blasting and carving the mountain. And Gutzon Borglum died before the carvings were finished so his son, Lincoln Borglum, finished the work.