MY HUSBAND AND I STARTED AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL BUSINESS IN THE BLACK HILLS IN THE 80'S AS THERE WAS A GREAT AMOUNT OF OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION. WE NOTIFIED THE FOREST SERVICE OF OUR BUSINESS AND THEY REFERRED US TO VARIOUS COMPANIES. WE TOOK OUR SON TO SOUTH DAKOTA ABOUT 1998 TO SEE VARIOUS PLACES INCLUDING MOUNT RUSHMORE. TODAY IT IS MUCH MORE GRAND LOOKING THAN IT WAS IN THE 80'S. IT IS AN INTERNATIONALLY VISITED PARK THAT LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE ENTERING THE CAPITAL BUILDING. THEY HAVE BUILT POLISHED GRANITE COLUMNS ALONG A GRANITE WALKWAY AS YOU GO INTO THE LARGE VISITOR CENTER, THEY ALSO ADDED A LARGE PARKING GARAGE. WE TOOK A SELF GUIDED TOUR. THEY NOW HAVE A NICE OUTDOOR AMPHITHEATRE AND A NEW WALKWAY LEADING ALL THE WAY UP TO THE GRANITE SCULPTURES OF THE PRESIDENTS. WE TOOK MANY PHOTOS.
APPARENTLY IT TOOK GUTZAM BORGLAM AND HIS CREW OF 400 WORKERS TO CARVE THESE FOUR PRESIDENTS: LINCOLN, ROOSEVELT; WASHINGTON, AND JEFFERSON. HE GOT FEDERAL FUNDING TO PROMOTE TOURISM. HE USED PNEUMATIC DRILLS AND BLASTS OF DYNAMITE TO SHAPE THE ROCKS. E GOT FEDERAL FUNDING TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT AND IT WAS GIVEN TO PROMOTE TOURISM HERE. IT ATTRACTS 2 MILLION PEOPLE ANNUALLY. THE MOUNTAIN WAS NAMED AFTER CHARLES RUSHMORE, A PROMINENT NEW YORK, LAWYER DURING AN EXPEDITION THERE IN THE 1880'S. THE MOUNTAIN WAS PART OF THE ROUTE THE LAKOTA LEADER BLACK ELK TOOK IN A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY. IN 1966 IT WAS PLACED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. THEY ALSO HAVE NICE CONCERTS THERE BY A MUSIC CAMP. EACH FACE IS 60 FEET LONG AND THE PROJECT COSTS ABOUT 1 MILLION DOLLARS.
WIKIPEDIA.COM
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