Visiting Mount Rushmore

     Eldon had never been to Mount Rushmore and my memories are extremely faint. We loved watching the children view it for the first time and seeing the awe in their eyes and hearing it in there voices. We all tremendously enjoyed our day at this Monument.

     There is no admission cost, but you will need to pay a $10 parking fee. Also, there is RV parking but it's limited so if you have to take your rig, plan to get there early. We didn't have our rig and were still glad to get there early and beat the heat and crowds.

No picture can capture the size and impressive detail.

This is as good as it gets when it's so bright!

Viewing Washington from a crack in a cave roof :)

And there's Lincoln!

As close as we could get.

     It was 1925 when Federal and state legislation authorized the carving of a memorial in the Black Hills. Gutzon Borglum selected which presidents were to be memorialized and was in charge of the monument. Models were made and used as a guide when they began carving the heads. By the way, 90% of it was done by blasting with dynamite! The 400 workers got to be very good at what they were doing! There were no deaths in the 14 years of carving and hourly pay ranged from 35 cents to $1.50.

     Did you ever wonder why these 4 men were chosen by Gutzon? Me too. But now I know what each one symbolizes!

      George Washington: Birth. Leader of the Continental Army in the American Revolution and the "Father of our Country", Washington was a natural first choice.

      Thomas Jefferson: Growth. Jefferson was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence and doubled the size the US with the purchase of the Louisiana Territory.

      Theodore Roosevelt: Development. Roosevelt was instrumental in negotiating the construction of the Panama Canal, which linked the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, as well as abolishing corporate monopolies and ensuring the rights of ordinary citizens. He also championed conservation legislation and set aside millions of acres of public land.

      Abraham Lincoln: Preservation. Lincoln was chosen for his devotion to restoring the Union and ending slavery.

Kids learning center.

Makayla especially loved this place. 

     On this picture you can some of the 450,000 tons of rock that was blasted from the mountain. Eventually, Ponderosa pines will be growing over that whole area.

We felt so tiny! The noses are about 20 feet long, to give you a little perspective.

Ethan didn't want to pose :)

     Sadly, Gutzon died before the monument was finished but his son, Lincoln Borglum oversaw the project until it's completion. His death, along with the impending World War II, had congress shut off funding and the monument was never completed. The original plan was to have waist up carvings and Susan B. Anthony was also to be added for contribution to Women's Rights. 

Jr. Ranger Badges completed!

Avenue of Flags

     Eldon and I agreed that it was more spectacular then we imagined. We spent close to an hour helping the children do their Jr. Ranger books and we learn so many interesting facts and history tidbits through that! I'm pretty thrilled that our parking pass is good for a year because if we get a chance, we'd love to go again!