Mount Rushmore
Arguably the most well-known sculpture in America, Mount Rushmore features sixty-foot high sculptures of four presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln, from left to right.
History and Geography
The memorial park around the sculpture is roughly 2 square miles, or ~5.2 square kilometers. Work began on Mount Rushmore in October 1927, headed by Gutzon Borglum until his untimely death in March 1941. Construction was then taken over by Borglum’s son, Lincoln, and finished in October 1941. The project was finished due to lack of funding, and remains technically unfinished even to this day. Drawing in over two million visitors yearly, Mount Rushmore is a highly recommended destination for tourists and locals alike, rich with history and American culture.
Modern Day
Since 1998, a Visitor’s Center has existed around the monument, and to this day, there exists a large museum detailing several of the processes used to carve and blast the rock. Despite using dynamite, and the time period in which this extensive, dangerous work was undertaken, no fatalities occurred during the entire process among any of the 400 workers. Interestingly, the figure of Thomas Jefferson was originally intended to be featured to Washington’s right, but after work was undertaken, the rock to Washington’s right was found to be bad quality, so the existing work was removed, and Jefferson now sits on Washington’s left.
Funding
The project, at the time, drew a lot of national attention. The National Park Service, for example, expanded its jurisdiction to include the new monument in 1933 and continues this position to this day. Overall, the project cost $989,992 from beginning to end.
Wrap-Up
With all these aspects to consider, Mount Rushmore is an incredibly easy suggestion for any interested tourists attending the ICPC to visit. With an expansive museum and a rich and fascinating history, Mount Rushmore is a tourist destination that any possible tourist would come away from pleased.
Sources:
"Park Statistics." National Parks Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, n.d. Web. 14 Mar.
2017.
"Frequently Asked Questions." National Parks Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, n.d.
Web. 14 Mar. 2017.
Arguably the most well-known sculpture in America, Mount Rushmore features sixty-foot high sculptures of four presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln, from left to right.
History and Geography
The memorial park around the sculpture is roughly 2 square miles, or ~5.2 square kilometers. Work began on Mount Rushmore in October 1927, headed by Gutzon Borglum until his untimely death in March 1941. Construction was then taken over by Borglum’s son, Lincoln, and finished in October 1941. The project was finished due to lack of funding, and remains technically unfinished even to this day. Drawing in over two million visitors yearly, Mount Rushmore is a highly recommended destination for tourists and locals alike, rich with history and American culture.
Modern Day
Since 1998, a Visitor’s Center has existed around the monument, and to this day, there exists a large museum detailing several of the processes used to carve and blast the rock. Despite using dynamite, and the time period in which this extensive, dangerous work was undertaken, no fatalities occurred during the entire process among any of the 400 workers. Interestingly, the figure of Thomas Jefferson was originally intended to be featured to Washington’s right, but after work was undertaken, the rock to Washington’s right was found to be bad quality, so the existing work was removed, and Jefferson now sits on Washington’s left.
Funding
The project, at the time, drew a lot of national attention. The National Park Service, for example, expanded its jurisdiction to include the new monument in 1933 and continues this position to this day. Overall, the project cost $989,992 from beginning to end.
Wrap-Up
With all these aspects to consider, Mount Rushmore is an incredibly easy suggestion for any interested tourists attending the ICPC to visit. With an expansive museum and a rich and fascinating history, Mount Rushmore is a tourist destination that any possible tourist would come away from pleased.
Sources:
"Park Statistics." National Parks Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, n.d. Web. 14 Mar.
2017.
"Frequently Asked Questions." National Parks Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, n.d.
Web. 14 Mar. 2017.