- Mount Rushmore National Memorial – Photo by SD Tourism Usually
Mount Rushmore is attributed to the genius of Gutzon Borglum,
but without the influence of a humble state historian named
Duane Robinson, the idea might never have gotten its start. In
1923, while secretary and superintendent of the State Historical
Society of South Dakota, Doane had the idea to carve western
figures on the “Needles” (granite spires) in Custer State Park
to draw tourism dollars to the state. He envisioned grand people
like Buffalo Bill Cody, Lewis & Clark and Sacagawea in stone.
Encouraged by other politicians, Doane shared his dream with
sculptor Gutzon Borglum who molded the historian’s vision into
what we see today. (Source: Gutzon Borglum: His Life and Work)
Sculptor Gutzon Borglum The month of October is a significant
one in telling the story of sculptor Gutzon Borglum. The carving
of Mount Rushmore began on October 4, 1927 and ended on October
31, 1941 not long after his death. Born in 1867 to Danish
immigrants, he venture