Day 5 Mount Rushmore Presidents Sculptures

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Mt Rushmore started as an idea to draw sightseers. Today it is USA’s most recognizable icons found in the southern Black Hills. Our campground is 10 minutes drive away. Mt Rushmore is one of the largest sculptures in the world. It measures 250 ft across and each head is about 60 ft tall. The noses are approx. 21 feet long and the mouths are 18 ft wide. Between October 1927 and October 1941 sculptor Gutzon Borglum and 400 workers created the sculpture. The presidents were selected on the basis of what each symbolized: George Washington, the struggle for independence; Thomas Jefferson, the idea of government by the people; Abraham Lincoln, ideas on equality and the permanent union of the states; and Theodore Roosevelt, the 20^thcentury role of the US in world affairs.

We found the site quite impressive. We were there early in the morning. There were hundreds of cars in the parking lot and they seemed to be from every US state.

After Mt Rushmore we visited the Keystone. It was an old mining town. The downtown has been kept to look like the 1880’s at the height of the gold rush.

There is so much to do in the Black Hills. After 6 days we only had an opportunity to visit the highlights. We highly recommend the area for a vacation. We are heading out tomorrow to Buffalo Wyoming for a stop over as it is half way between here and Yellowstone National Park.

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Photos

Mount Rushmore
At a distance looks like he is wearing glases

Sculptor's Model
Measurements were taken from the model. The plan was to also sculpt the bodies but they discovered rock could not be sculpted.

On Road to Mount Rushmore
Called Needles (granite)

Comments

[Jean Condie]

Wow !!!
Hello Gary & Joy .....sounds like you are seeing lots ..Mount Rushmore is .Quiet impressive !!!! Amazing how they eeven did it ....Doug & I fly to Halifax via Porter Air a week from Thursday ...we are anxious to chat with Carol & Greg about our pending cruise .....we will be there for the .long weekend ...which will be nice ...Joann retires this week & Kev retired in early May ...They can't wait .....I am sure right now Gary you feel like you are still on holidays ....but the good news is when you get home ...the holiday will continue ....keep sending pics about your trip ..Love Jean