Sculptor Gutzon Borglum carved more than individuals into stone.
Mount Rushmore was intended to commemorate American culture and ideals- a monument to democracy itself.
Thus he chose four presidents he believed
best embodied the spirit of America and represented
the first 150 years of American history.
These presidents were:
George Washington
Thomas Jefferson
Theodore Roosevelt
and Abraham Lincoln.
Jefferson is well known as the primary author
of the Declaration of Independence, a document
critical to American democracy and an inspiration
for other democracies around the world.
This in itself was a great accomplishment.
However, Borglum chose him not just because of
this, but because of the Louisiana Purchase.
Jefferson dreamt of Westward expansion and
his land deal more than doubled the size of our country.
Borglum’s vision originally placed Thomas
Jefferson on Washington’s right.
However, because of poor quality stone, the
sculpture had to be revised.
After months of hard work and many dollars
later, the first attempt was blasted away
in 1934 before carving began again.
Once again, Borglum ran into problems partway
through carving in the new position.
A major crack was revealed running through
Jefferson’s nose and the head had to be reset
five degrees to the north, set back four feet,
and tilted roughly eighteen inches to its
present day position.
With all of the setbacks, it took six years
from the beginning of carving in 1930 to its
dedication in 1936, the longest time period
between initial carving and dedication for
any of the four presidents.
At what age should Jefferson’s figure be
immortalized?
Young or old?
Borglum eventually decided to portray a younger
Jefferson at the age of 33 when he had drafted
the Declaration of Independence.
Despite the many challenges Borglum faced
while carving, Jefferson’s figure now looks
eternally heavenward as part of one of America’s
enduring icons.
