The Profile: A Mount Rushmore Treasure
Do you believe in human ingenuity?
Do you believe in human ingenuity? Once I saw Mount Rushmore in person, I not only reaffirmed my belief in human ingenuity but also in dedication, hard work, and creativity. Like many of you, I have seen thousands of pictures of Mount Rushmore. However, when I saw it in person, my perspective changed. I was awestruck by the sheer magnitude of the art that is Mount Rushmore.
Therefore, every photograph I took was an effort to capture my sights and experiences. I must admit, it’s hard to translate the real-life experience into a photo or any other medium to convey the raw emotion you feel when witnessing this incredible creation. The personal experience of seeing Mount Rushmore motivated me to capture what I saw and to learn new things about this monument.
I was surprised by a sight I saw called 'The Profile View.' It is a unique view of George Washington, and seeing and photographing it was a pleasant surprise, especially since I didn't know this view of President Washington existed. The “Profile View” offers an interesting perspective of the art on Mount Rushmore.
I researched a bit of history on Mount Rushmore. Here are a few facts:
The state of South Dakota commissioned Danish-American sculptor Gutzon Borglum to help with the project. At the time, he was working on a massive carving at Stone Mountain in Georgia, but by his own account, he said the model was flawed. He believed the monument wouldn’t stand the test of time. He was looking for a way out when South Dakota called.
The Borglums chose the presidents for their significant contributions to the country's founding, expansion, preservation and unification.
George Washington (1732-1799) represents our nation as its founding father.
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) represents expansion, as a signer of the Louisiana Purchase and author of the Declaration of Independence.
Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) represents conservation and the industrial blossoming of the nation.
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) represents perseverance at all costs since he was the nation’s leader during the Civil War.
Each president’s face is 60 feet high. The original carving conception included the bodies of the presidents down to their waists. The faces appear in this order: Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln.
After nearly two years of work on Jefferson, Borglum’s team decided the rock was unsuitable, and the partially completed face was “erased” from the mountainside. With dynamite.
The team completed Washington’s face in 1934 and Jefferson’s in 1936. Lincoln and Roosevelt were both finished in 1937.
In 1937, a bill was introduced to Congress to add the image of women’s rights leader Susan B. Anthony to the mountain. In response, Congress then passed a bill requiring the completion of only the in-process heads. Travel South Dakota