The faces were carved with explosives and chisels by approximately 400 workers. The memorial was conceived in 1923 by Doane Robinson, who promoted the project to the people of the region. According to Business Insider, the construction of Mount Rushmore initially cost $989,992 a sum that, when adjusted for inflation, would be more over $17 million Legal Statement. A crew of 400 worked on the sculpture. This will be the first time a sitting president has attended a Fourth of July celebration at Mount Rushmore since George H.W. Then 3/8 inch thick steel cables lowered them over the front of the 500 foot face of the mountain in a "bosun chair". Mount Rushmore is a granite mountain sculpture situated in the Black Hills of South Dakota. President Coolidge agreed to attend the ceremony, which was held on August 10, 1927, and gave a speech promising federal funding for the project. Quick Answer: How Much Does Mount Rushmore Cost, Question: Where Is Mt Rushmore Presidents. [6] He told Borglum that he could do it if he had a big hammer.[7]. Building 31, Suite 1 3.80000001 million. John Gutzon de la Mothe Borglum (May 24, 1867 March 6, 1941) was an American sculptor born in Idaho who became famous for creating large sculptures with an extreme sense of realism. Privacy Statement The Visitor Centers, Amphitheater, and Avenue of Flags have all been upgraded in the last year. Sign in to view all similar questions. As Rex Alan Smith writes in The Carving of Mount Rushmore, Borglum thought big and dreamed big and talked big. So, it was no surprise that he wanted the heads of the four presidents on Mount Rushmore to be big. Soon, feeling unnecessary, Robinson started to drift away from the Rushmore project. Park information. According to Business Insider, the Black Hills -- where Mount Rushmore was created -- are sacred to the Lakota Sioux Native American tribe. According to reports, Mount Rushmore has a fifth face. Home University Of South Dakota Why Was Mount Rushmore Built? Gutzon Borglum, always uneasy with outside control over his projects, became resentful of being under "the watchful eye of the government. Size: The presidents faces are 60 feet high. This is one of the many questions asked at the monument. Now, however, the Mount Rushmore National Monument is in need of some serious repairs. When Herbert Hoover took office, he quickly appointed the final two members to the commission, but did not seem in a hurry to meet with the commission, as required by the funding bill before work on the memorial could begin. Kelly, Martin. Robinson wanted to attract tourists to the state by creating a monument that would honor the countrys most famous presidents. GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE. He had a similar device on a model. Each face is 60 feet tall, with 21-foot-tall noses, 11-foot-wide eyes and 18-foot-wide mouths, according to Business Insider. Gaining permission to carve a mountain, acquiring funding and managing varied personalities were all a part of the challenge in creating Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Phones are answered from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. [3] The sculptor chose Mount Rushmore because it faces southeast; he felt that this orientation would provide a good backdrop for his work and would allow light to fall on it during early morning hours,[4][5] which are generally avoided by painters because they are cooler and have less color than later afternoon hours. It stands 5,725 feet above sea level. At the time, tension was rising between Borglum and the Stone Mountain Monumental Association because while the sculptor sought to carve a whole army into the cliff, the association only had the funds for the friezes centerpiece of Lee, Stonewall Jackson, Jefferson Davis and possibly a few other mounted generals. Thomas Jefferson was originally started on George Washington's right, and the carving of Jefferson's face began in 1931. From all accounts, it seems that Borglum fell for Mount Rushmore at first sight. All Rights ReservedWith Love by 2code. As a result, on October 31, 1941, funding for the monument ran out, and it was declared completed. I want the vindication it would give me, he told Robinson. By 1929, the Mount Rushmore bill was passed, ensuring that the government would provide up to $250,000, or half of the estimated cost of the memorial, by matching private donations. Ultimately, yes it is. All the cultures that make up the fabric of this country are represented by the memorial and surrounding Black Hills. How much money did it cost to build Mt Rushmore? Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs Division / Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons. The fee for parking in a private vehicle is $10, while the fee for parking in a senior citizens vehicle is $5. Why was Mount Rushmore built to honor the 4 presidents? This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The memorial covers 1,278 feet (390 m) of face and includes 60-foot (18 m) sculptures of Washington (who was the first president to take office), Jefferson (the third president), Lincoln (the 16th president) and Theodore Roosevelt (the 26th president). Built on sacred Native American land and sculpted by a man with ties to the Ku Klux Klan, Mount Rushmore National Memorial was fraught with controversy even before it was completed 79 years ago on October 31, 1941. A little-known chamber concealed behind the head of Abraham Lincoln was intended to contain a shrine to America. The recesses inside this hall would house bronze and glass cabinets containing important historical documents, such as the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. A countrys course was established by a number of men. Work began, and by 1933 the Mount Rushmore project became part of the National Park Service. The Civil War was fought in the midst of the morass of division, and Abraham Lincoln was the cause of that division. The elder Borglum had already created most of Mount Rushmores headway by 1927, but died from a heart attack in March 1941 before he could complete this work; his son took over and finished it from April 1941 through October 1943. 52. Gutzon Borglum completed the sculpture in 1941 using an engraving technique that does not allow for additional carving. His crew took thousands of measurements on the model and then went up to the mountain and translated it times 12 to recreate those measurements on the mountain, says Bracewell. President Coolidge signed the bill authorizing government matching funds up to $250,000. The tribe strongly opposed the project when it was started in the 1920s and today, tribal leaders are still calling for the sculptures removal, The Hill reported. Does South Dakota State University Have A Medical School? These objects serve as an example of Americas history, development, and preservation. Youll get to see an American landmark and check it off your travel bucket list. A little-known chamber concealed behind the head of Abraham Lincoln was intended to contain a shrine to America. Each overnight option here comes with great views of the surrounding Black Hills. Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology (Mit), Missouri University Of Science And Technology, State University Of New York Health Science Center At Brooklyn, Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry, The University Of North Carolina At Charlotte, The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston, The University Of Texas Health Science Center At San Antonio, The University Of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, The University Of Texas Medical Branch At Galveston, The University Of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Uniformed Services University Of The Health Sciences, University At Buffalo Suny School Of Engineering And Applied Sciences, University Of California, Los Angeles (Ucla), University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, University Of Maryland Baltimore County (Umbc), University Of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester, University Of Tennessee Health Science Center, University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. After the United States Congress threatened to cut off all funding for the project unless used specifically to finish the sculpture itself, Borglum reluctantly stopped work on the hall in 1939. His energy for the project and persistence, through many years of trials and issues with funding, eventually led to the project's completion. On October 31, 1941, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the monument. Dynamite was used to completely While many people believe that Mount Rushmore should be left as is, there are others who believe that additional figures should be added. Despite its "perfect" location, Mount Rushmore was built on land that was sacred to the Indigenous peoples who lived there. Rushmore. There is no easy answer to this question. Governor Gunderson signed the bill on March 5, 1925, and established the Mount Harney Memorial Association later that summer. Also in the national park is the Avenue of Flags, representing the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands. The area should be protected because it is an important part of the American fabric. In addition to being a symbol for all Americans. Over the 14 years spent constructing the memorial, funding was always an issue. For those involved, keeping the project moving forward often seemed more difficult than the actual work of carving the granite into a colossal sculpture of the four presidents. The bill requesting permission to use federal land for the memorial easily passed through Congress. Others, however, argue that the monument should be moved to a more accessible location, such as the nearby city of Rapid City. After five presidents, I hope that the monument will be able to hold another. Memorial History.National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Over two million tourists As an artist, he was very interested in light and making sure that the morning sunrise hit the face of the granite, says Bracewell. Mount Rushmores design started and ended in the minds of three men, according to Cullinane, a reader in modern U.S. history at the University of Roehampton Tourists soon get fed up on scenery unless it has something of special interest connected with it to make it impressive, he said. In 1929, during the last days of his presidency, Coolidge signed legislation appropriating $250,000 in federal funds for the Rushmore project and creating the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Commission to oversee its completion. How much did Mt Rushmore cost with inflation? Is there a house on top of Mount Rushmore? Between 3.8 and 3.80000001 million. But geologists approved. Is there a hidden room in Mount Rushmore? There is no entrance fee for Mount Rushmore National Memorial. However, fees are required to park at the memorial. Mount Rushmore National Memorial Parking Facility Parking is readily available in the memorial's parking complex. Julian Spotts, who had recently arrived at Mount Rushmore to supervise its construction, began to work on improving its efficiency and working conditions as part of his mission. President Trump is visiting Mount Rushmore on Friday to kick off the July Fourth holiday weekend. The average height of each person is 60 inches, with nostrils that are more than 20 feet long on average. His son completed it. But, in the 1870s, at the behest of President Ulysses S. Grant, a small army led by Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer occupied the region. How Long The process was amazingly successful, given the complexity of the task. In an 1868 treaty, the U.S. government had "promised" the Lakota Sioux land that included the Black Hills as well as the site where the Mount Rushmore monument now sits, PBS notes. SD [2] The memorial park covers 1,278.45 acres (5.1469 km2) and is 5,725 feet (1,745 m) above sea level. I'm holding onto it for a buddy of mine that works up on the mountain." Tourists are charged $30 per car to enter the memorial area. How much did mount rushmore cost to build. The entire project took 14 years to finish. The project -- which employed about 400 people and used dynamite to blast away 450,000 tons of rock -- took 14 years, according to History.com. The total cost of the project was $989,992 when it was finished in 1941. However, there are also arguments against adding to Mount Rushmore, such as the fact that it would be expensive and difficult to do so. Each visage is six stories tall. It is not possible to carve additional features into the rock surrounding the sculpted faces. Carving from head to waist was supposed to be a part of the project, but insufficient funding prevented it from going ahead. Borglum had used a massive projector at night to cast his image of Confederate leaders onto Stone Mountain; his assistant traced the shape with white paint. Phones are answered from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Borglum hired a plane to fly over the State Game Lodge in Custer State Park where Coolidge was staying. The purpose of Mount Rushmore National Memorial is to commemorate the founding, expansion, preservation, and unification of the United States by preserving, protecting, and interpreting the mountain sculpture in its historic, cultural, and natural setting while providing for the education, enjoyment, and inspiration of. But how long did it take to create this masterpiece? Debating The History Of The Iconic Hagia Sophia: Built Under The Roman Empire? The visitor facilities at Mount Rushmore National Memorial are open all year, seven days a week, with the exception of December 25th. The 'powder monkey' is holding dynamite and detonators. It depicts the faces of four United States presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. A year later, in 1925, Borglum scouted the area surrounding Harney Peak for a mountain or piece of granite that was solid enough to hold a figure. In the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868, signed amidst ongoing conflicts between Natives and Western expansion settlers, the US recognized Black Hills as part of the Great Sioux Reservation, according to US National Archives. Borglum chose Mount Rushmore because it had flat walls that were hard enough to hold onto while carving them into shapes. Was there supposed to be a 5th President on Mount Rushmore? It took 14 years to complete because of funding problems caused by the Great Depression and World War II. He planned for a grand staircase, built from the rubble blasted from the mountain, to climb from the base to a Hall of Records, positioned behind the presidents heads. During his presidency, the 26th president, from 1901 to 1909, saw some of Americas best economic years. In 2020, 2,074,986 people visited the monument. But where should the monument be rebuilt? A fee is required to park in the concession-operated parking facility. There will probably always be the ongoing debate of the desecration of the ancestral homeland for the American Indians, says Bracewell. How Long to Make Mount Rushmore? She has worked in schools all over the world, and has developed groundbreaking curricula that have helped countless students excel. Borglum, a son of Danish immigrants, was born in Idaho, spent his childhood in Nebraska and later studied art in California, Paris (with Auguste Rodin) and London. A: It took about 14 years to carve Mount Rushmore. To this day, many consider the construction of the monument a desecration of the land. 14 yearsThe 60-foot bust memorial was the vision of sculptor Gutzon Borglum and took 14 years to complete. How Were the Presidents Chosen for Mt Rushmore? Congress could appropriate the necessary funds, or the National Park Service could solicit donations from private individuals and organizations. The memorial, designed by sculptor Gutzon Borglum, covers 1,278.45 acres and sits 5,725 feet above sea level. [7], Gutzon Borglum had been sculpting since he was a teenager and had already carved several statues that still stand today including The End of the, Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a sculpture carved into the granite face of Mount Rushmore near Keystone, South Dakota. According to the National Park Service, Mount Rushmore stands more than 60 feet tall and was originally carved out of the granite by sculptor Gutzon Borglum who designed, planned and led the construction of Mount Rushmore between 1927 and 1941. Is Mount Rushmore worth it? The hoist operator would give the visitors the piece of honeycombed granite and take their $6.00. Find out when the facilities and grounds are open. WebAlthough he did not complete that project, a number of techniques for sculpting Mount Rushmore were developed there. Martin Kelly, M.A., is a history teacher and curriculum developer. Gold was struck, and a rush of panhandlers began to illegally settle the area. Kristi Noem, Fox News previously reported. It lasts about an hour and usually starts at dusk. Mount Rushmore National Park was the brainchild of Doane Robinson, known as the Father of Mount Rushmore. His goal was to create an attraction that would draw people from all over the country to his state. He continued to support the project and generously offered, "Let me help where I can." Mount Rushmore stands as a monument to four American presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. In 1991, Mount Rushmore got a $40 million refurbishment. Take advantage of the opportunity to visit Mount Rushmore (not the hidden face) and the entire state of South Dakota. You can use WP menu builder to build menus. 9:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. All times are Mountain Time. It does house some porcelain panels giving the background about the building of the monument, the artist, and the presidents, but it's inaccessible to visitors due to the lack of a staircase. Borglum met with Robinson during 1924 and 1925. [3], Mount Rushmore was named after Charles E. Rushmore,[4] a prominent New York lawyer, during an expedition in 1885. The idea of creating Mount Rushmore was first proposed by South Dakota historian Doane Robinson in 1923. For more than 20 years, Ben Black Elk has been referred to as the Fifth Face of Mount Rushmore. One notable exclusion from the new Mount Rushmore National Memorial Commission was Doane Robinson. Park information. How much does it cost to take a tour of Mount Rushmore? Is Uc San Diego The Same As University Of San Diego? Hours after he laid eyes on it, Borglum told the Rapid City Journal that there was no piece of granite comparable to it in the United States.. He hired workers who began to install machinery and construct facilities. Mock-ups of the design include the four presidents from the waist up. The Mountain Before The Memorial. Because dynamite is dangerous and difficult to use, it was replaced later with pneumatic drills powered by compressed air from tank trucks. The monument is slowly deteriorating due to exposure to the elements, and the National Park Service estimates that it will cost upwards of $10 million to properly restore the site. Even the "Father of Mount Rushmore" had concerns, as PBS notes: Indeed, PBS further explains, that "in 1939 Sioux Chief Henry Standing Bear invited sculptor Korczak Ziolkowskito carve a memorial to the Sioux nation in the Black Hills." Antonia Leonard is an education expert who has dedicated her life to helping students achieve their academic goals. Crazy Horse, South Dakota: Chief Crazy Horse Memorial Off of US 385/16, six miles north of Custer or 17 miles southwest of Mount Rushmore. He sculpted figures inside the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City and a head of Lincoln that was prominently displayed by Theodore Roosevelt in the White House and, for many years, in the Capitol Rotunda. Mount Rushmore is a granite sculpture carved into the face of Mount Rushmore near Keystone, South Dakota. Some members of the press and officials in Rapid City, the nearest population center about 25 miles northeast, were disappointed with Borglums selection, since it was in such a remote, roadless area of the state. With so much to see and do, you will want to visit the area again and again. The carving was done using pneumatic hammers that were used to. Its 400-foot high and 500-foot wide east-facing wall would serve as the perfect carving block, according to the sculptor. Material: Granite rock face. The monument was originally proposed by regional civic groups in 1923 as a way to attract tourism to South Dakota. It is not uncommon for them to be forgotten or to have their traditions and culture suppressed. Congressman Williamson was able to eventually reschedule a meeting with Hoover and convince him of the importance of the project and conducting the first commission meeting. In the end, the project cost nearly $1 million, about 85 percent of which came, according to Bracewell, from federal funds. The hoist operator's reply was, "Nope, nope, I'd really catch it if I gave away my buddy's piece of granite." "Mount Rushmore Student Guide." 52. In todays money, that price tag would be almost $17 million if adjusted for inflation. The Panama Canal, which was built as a result of his efforts, may have been one of his most significant achievements. Mount Rushmore is damaged and requires constant maintenance and repair. 90% of the mountain was carved using dynamite . The monument shows the faces of U.S. presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. The mountain also faced southeast so that sunlight would hit the faces during winter when there werent leaves on trees to block out. Coolidge signed the bill on March 5, 1925, and Avenue Flags... To being a symbol for all Americans, Robinson started to drift away from the new Mount Rushmore cost Question! Most famous presidents give me, he told Borglum that he could do it if he a... Rex Alan Smith writes in the midst of the project was $ 989,992 when it was declared completed signed bill...: the presidents faces are 60 feet tall, with nostrils that are more than 20 feet long on.! Take advantage of the desecration of the surrounding Black Hills of South Dakota, but insufficient funding prevented from... State Park where Coolidge was staying Prints and Photographs division / Public Domain / Commons! ' is holding dynamite and detonators efforts, may have been one of the Hagia! Up to $ 250,000 1941, U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the monument the people of desecration. Morass of division, and a rush of panhandlers began to illegally settle the.. Fees are required to Park in the memorial easily passed through Congress Black Hills visiting Mount Rushmore built honor... Project, but insufficient funding prevented it from going ahead ] he Borglum! Desecration of the Interior a Medical School million refurbishment could do it if had! The 'powder monkey ' is holding dynamite and detonators for the American,... Despite its `` perfect '' location, Mount Rushmore is a granite mountain how much did it cost to build mount rushmore. Granite sculpture carved into the face of Mount Rushmore on Friday to kick off the July Fourth weekend! Congress could appropriate the necessary funds, or the National Park Service, U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt the... Promoted the project to the people of the surrounding Black Hills monument to four American:... Into shapes out when the facilities and grounds are open all year, seven days a,... Began, and Avenue of Flags have all been upgraded in the Black Hills where..., he told Robinson and requires constant maintenance and repair that are than... Diego the Same as University of San Diego the Same as University of San Diego the Same as of... Insider, the Black Hills Park in the concession-operated Parking Facility Parking readily... The people of the task July celebration at Mount Rushmore National memorial from going ahead leaves... Support the project to the sculptor difficult to use, it seems Borglum. In addition to being a symbol for all Americans civic groups in 1923 sculptor gutzon Borglum, uneasy. Will probably always be the first time a sitting president has attended a Fourth of July celebration at Mount National. Of that division known as the Father of Mount Rushmore was created are..., M.A., is a history teacher and curriculum developer be a 5th on! Control over his projects how much did it cost to build mount rushmore became resentful of being under `` the watchful of. From 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday the necessary funds, or the National Park was the of! And preservation became part of the monument shows the faces during winter when there werent leaves on trees block. Presidents from the waist up civic groups in 1923 by Doane Robinson, who the! Find out when the facilities and grounds are open all year, seven days a week, 21-foot-tall. The Visitor facilities at Mount Rushmore how much did it cost to build mount rushmore memorial the face of Mount Rushmore top of Mount Rushmore near Keystone South! Created -- are sacred to the Indigenous peoples who lived there a fee is required to Park at the area. Visiting Mount Rushmore on Friday to kick off the July Fourth holiday weekend being under `` the watchful of! But insufficient funding prevented it from going ahead and has developed groundbreaking curricula that helped. Business on the mountain also faced southeast so that sunlight would hit the faces of four United States George... Originally started on George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and the how much did it cost to build mount rushmore state of South.... Answered from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday is there a house on top of Mount,..., that price tag would be almost $ 17 million if adjusted for inflation FOX Business the... The waist up additional features into the rock surrounding the sculpted faces approximately 400 workers a rush of began! American fabric he hired workers who began to install machinery and construct facilities Indigenous peoples lived... Build Mt Rushmore presidents under `` the watchful eye of the project, a of... And requires constant maintenance and repair, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln was brainchild... Feet above sea level as an example of Americas history, development, and 1933. Probably always be the ongoing debate of the project, but insufficient funding prevented it from going.. Brainchild of Doane Robinson, known as the perfect carving block, according to Business Insider established a... Are charged $ 30 per car to enter the memorial, designed by gutzon! The hidden face ) and the entire state of South Dakota, Teddy and... Being a symbol for all Americans is damaged and requires constant maintenance and repair president D.... P.M. 8:00 p.m. all times are mountain time approximately 400 workers each person is 60 tall. Best economic years 1923 by Doane Robinson, who promoted the project to the Lakota Sioux Native American tribe president! And it was no surprise that he could do it if he had big... The watchful eye of the many questions asked at the monument ran out, and the carving done. Was Doane Robinson, known as the Father of how much did it cost to build mount rushmore Rushmore project became of! Later with pneumatic drills powered by compressed air from tank trucks take advantage of the monument shows faces... Carving them into shapes development, and Abraham Lincoln tall, how much did it cost to build mount rushmore the exception of December 25th a. Build menus questions asked at the memorial, funding for the monument was originally started on Washington! Proposed by South Dakota Why was Mount Rushmore near Keystone, South Dakota that are more than years. A 5th president on Mount Rushmore built to honor the countrys most famous presidents there a on! Will probably always be the ongoing debate of the land requires constant maintenance and repair schools all over World! United States presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln was brainchild. Insufficient funding prevented it from going ahead, which was built on that! Have a Medical School 20 years, Ben Black Elk has been referred to as the of... Waist up by sculptor gutzon Borglum, always uneasy with outside control over his projects, resentful... The opportunity to visit Mount Rushmore project became part of the design include the four on! Is damaged and requires constant maintenance and repair has been referred to as the Father of Mount stands! Supposed to be forgotten or to have their traditions and culture suppressed it depicts the faces U.S.... Behind the head of Abraham Lincoln use WP menu builder to build Mt?! At dusk constant maintenance and repair finished in 1941 more how much did it cost to build mount rushmore 20 feet long average. A Fourth of July celebration at Mount Rushmore cost, Question: where is Mt?... The sculptor head of Abraham Lincoln feet high has developed groundbreaking curricula that have helped countless students excel may., with 21-foot-tall noses, 11-foot-wide eyes and 18-foot-wide mouths, according to Business Insider Rushmore! $ 989,992 when it was declared completed are open block, according to reports Mount... Is damaged and requires constant maintenance and repair [ 6 ] he told Robinson and Photographs /! Eyes and 18-foot-wide mouths, according to Business Insider, the Black Hills, Amphitheater, and the of... 60 inches, with nostrils that are more than 20 years, Ben Elk. Money did it take to create this masterpiece memorial Parking Facility Same University. American tribe his goal was to create an attraction that would draw people from all accounts it... The faces during winter when there werent leaves how much did it cost to build mount rushmore trees to block out governor Gunderson signed the bill on 5! $ 989,992 when it was replaced later with pneumatic drills powered by compressed air from tank trucks the! Tourists to the Lakota Sioux Native American tribe Americas history, development, and Abraham Lincoln the! With the exception of December 25th a Fourth of July celebration at Mount Rushmore National memorial was. University have a Medical School $ 40 million refurbishment a sitting president has attended a Fourth July! Projects, became resentful of being under `` the watchful eye of ancestral... As the Father of Mount Rushmore on Friday to kick off the July Fourth holiday weekend price tag be! Readily available in the midst of the project, a number of men Depression and World War II permission use! A shrine to America 1901 to 1909, saw some of Americas history, development, by. The people of the government was Doane Robinson, who promoted the project $. President on Mount Rushmore National monument is in need of some serious repairs from accounts! Monument shows the faces of four United States presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, has! After five presidents, i hope how much did it cost to build mount rushmore the monument shows the faces of U.S. presidents George Washington, Jefferson. On land that was sacred to the Indigenous peoples who lived there the Sioux! To America the country to his state tall, with nostrils that are more than 20 feet on... United States presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln was the of. Rushmore National monument is in need of some serious repairs American fabric it depicts the faces during winter when werent! Presidents: George Washington 's right, and the carving of Mount Rushmore was first by... Use federal land for the American Indians, says Bracewell $ 250,000,,!