AnirudhaControversy With The Location
You must be aware of the controversies that tagged along with construction of this monument. When the project was about to start they faced a roadblock because of the location. After a long search, they found this place and when they thought that now nothing can stop their dream of making South Dakota great they found out that there are some people who are opposing the construction as it will change the whole landscape and the entire place will not be the same as it holds a special place in these people’s hearts. These people stalled the construction for several days and Robinson was getting impatient day by day.
Was the opposition really about the change in the landscape or were these people afraid about the secret that would come out during the construction? What was it?
The Native Americans
In the Black Hills of South Dakota, there are several Native American tribes like the Lakotas, Cheyennes, Arapahos, and many more that consider Mount Rushmore as a sacred place. They were not happy about the U.S government decision of making a monument on their sacred place and their oppose was fair enough but the project did not stop and went on because the government had already declared the area as a National Park and now this area was under the U.S government jurisdiction. Even today, this area is used for the ritualistic purposes by the Native Americans and the talks between the Native Americans and the government regarding the site are in discussion.
Construction Begins
At last, after all the paperwork and the funding, the construction started in the month of October in 1927. Gutzon Borglum employed over 400 workers to assist him on this journey that will create history. For Borglum, this monument was not just another work that he has to do for his family but this work would be entirely different from his usual works. He was on the journey of creating a masterpiece that American people and coming generation will think of every time they hear about the Mount Rushmore.
More Input
Though Borglum was creating a masterpiece, he had even bigger plans for the site that he announced later for the public to know. People had the idea that there will be carvings of the four greatest presidents of all time but there was something more they did not know. He planned on leaving clues for the future generation so that they could learn about the United States when they visit the monument. He wanted to keep some information from the people so that they can learn about the great history of their country.
Numerous Restrictions
There was so much that Gutzon Borglum had in his mind that he wanted to do with the monument in addition to carving the four faces. In his first design, he was also planning to add the map of the Louisiana Purchase with the four faces and inside the map, he had a plan of carving some of the nation’s highest accomplishments and significant incidents that occurred in the history of the country which people tend to forget about with time. You can see how much he loved his country and how many ideas he had about the monument through which he wanted to show people that you live in a great country.
Something On His Own
But you see not every plan go as planned and the same happened with his ideas as the commission did not pass the additions he had charted out in front of them because of the limited funding they received. At first, they decided to carve these presidents up till their waist and because of the funding they dropped the idea and we all know how the carving ended.
But Borglum had something up his sleeves that he did not tell anyone and kept it as the secret even to this day. He had a creative mind and he knew because of the limited funding he won’t get what he desires so he decided to manage everything on his own.