Austin's+Report

Four amazing presidents’ heads are carved on the side of a mountain! This mountain is the black hills of South Dakota. The heads are sixty feet tall. It is called Mt. Rushmore and is carved right into granite rock. You will learn how long it took, who built it, and other cool things about Mount Rushmore.

How long did it take to make Mount Rushmore? It started in 1927 and they finished it in 1941. They used 450,000 tons of rock. It cost 1,000,000 dollars to build Mt. Rushmore.

‘”This is a saying that John Gutzon Borglum, Mount Rushmore’s creator, said. “Hence, let us place there, carved high, as close to heaven as we can, the works of our leaders, their faces, to show posterity what manner of men they were. Then breathe prayer that these records will endure until the wind and the rain alone shall wear them away.”

Do you know who built Mount Rushmore and came up with the idea? Doane Robison was the one who came up with the idea to put fortner hero’s faces on granite rock. He was the states historian. Gutzon Borglum was the sculptor to make a memorial to interest all the Americans. He hired 400 people to help. Only about 131 of them worked on the mountain. He wanted to carve the images of presidents instead former heroes. He died in 1941, before the memorial was completed, and his son Lincoln finished the work.

Did you ever wonder where Mount Rushmore is and some of the tools they used? Mount Rushmore is in the black hills in South Dakota. Mt. Rushmore faces the sun most of the day. It is 5, 725 feet above sea level. The memorial covers about 1,278.45 acres and 5.17 km. . You had to climb 506 feet to get to the top of Mt. Rushmore. It takes 700 steps to reach the top. They used dynamite to blast away 500,000 tons of stone. They used jack hammers to carve each president`s face. No one ever fell when they were working.

Did you Know why each president was chosen? George Washington was known for his courage. He was the first president of our country. He was also called the father of our country. He helped write our constitution. Thomas Jefferson was the author of the declaration of independence. He represents the government, and the explanation through the Louisiana Purchase. Theodore Roosevelt was the third president on Mt. Rushmore, because he helped to make the Panama Canal, linking the Atlantic Oceans to the Pacific Ocean. Abraham Lincoln was chosen for helping the union though a dark hour and for his ideas of freedom and equality for all.

At last we are close to the end but first here are some fun facts. Mr. Robison wanted western heroes carved on the side of the rock. An example like Buffalo Bill and Kit Carson. Mt. Rushmore is taller than the Great Pyramid of Egypt. It is part of the National Park Service CNPSJ.2, 757.971 people visited it in 2006. If they put the full body on the heads it would be 465 feet each. Over 800 pounds of stone was removed when they were building it. Each president’s nose was 20 feet long, and there mouth is 18 feet wide. Also there eyes are 11 feet across. . Rapid City is a second largest city in South Dakota. It is 25 miles away from Rapid City.

Now you’ ll never forget about mount rushmore’s features and presidents.