Mount Rushmore, located in the Black Hills National Forest as a National Park, has been in the news lately, is a famous American landmark located in the Black Hills of South Dakota. It features the sculpted faces of four U.S. presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.

1. Concept and Selection:
   • The idea for Mount Rushmore was conceived by South Dakota historian Doane Robinson in the early 1920s. He wanted to create a tourist attraction in the Black Hills to boost tourism in the region.
   • Sculptor Gutzon Borglum was chosen to design and oversee the project due to his experience with large-scale sculptures.
2. Site Selection:
   • Mount Rushmore was chosen as the site because of its solid granite face, which provided an ideal canvas for carving the presidents’ faces.
   • The mountain was named after New York attorney Charles E. Rushmore, who visited the area in the late 19th century.
3. Carving Begins:
   • Work on Mount Rushmore began in 1927 and continued for 14 years until 1941.
   • A team of skilled workers used dynamite to remove excess rock, followed by painstaking hand carving using chisels and other tools.
4. Presidential Selection:
   • The four presidents featured on Mount Rushmore were chosen for their significant contributions to American history.
   • George Washington represents the birth of the nation, Thomas Jefferson symbolizes westward expansion, Theodore Roosevelt signifies the development of the nation, and Abraham Lincoln represents the preservation of the United States during the Civil War.
5. Delays and Challenges:
   • The project faced numerous challenges, including funding issues and engineering difficulties.
   • Borglum also had to deal with labor disputes and occasionally clashed with his workers and assistants.
6. Completion and Dedication:
   • Gutzon Borglum passed away in 1941 before the project’s completion, and his son, Lincoln Borglum, took over.
   • Mount Rushmore was officially dedicated on October 31, 1941, although work continued until October 1941.
   • The monument has since become a symbol of American democracy and is visited by millions of tourists from around the world.
7. Legacy:
   • Mount Rushmore is a National Memorial and is managed by the National Park Service.
   • It is not without controversy, as it was carved on land that is considered sacred to Native American tribes, most notably the Lakota Sioux.