Mount Rushmore, a massive monument with four U.S. presidents gazing out over South Dakota’s Black Hills, is a staple of American iconography. But behind those well-known faces is a tale full of secrets and surprises. Let’s take a closer look.
More Than Just Faces
The original plan was not only to carve the faces of the presidents, but also to include a Hall of Records behind the heads, containing important documents and artifacts of American history. Additionally, the sculptor, Gutzon Borglum, envisioned the figures to be carved from head to waist. However, due to insufficient funding, the project was declared complete with just the faces.
Dynamite Sculpted the Majority of the Monument
The creation of Mount Rushmore was an engineering marvel, requiring the removal of over 450,000 tons of rock. Surprisingly, dynamite did 90% of the work. Precision explosives carved out the rough shapes of the presidents’ heads, after which workers used jackhammers and hand chisels for the finer details.
Secret Chamber Hidden Behind Lincoln’s Head
One of the most fascinating yet lesser-known facts about Mount Rushmore is the existence of a hidden chamber located behind Abraham Lincoln’s head. Borglum’s concept of a Hall of Records wasn’t complete, this one chamber does exist today.