AnirudhaMaintaining Mount Rushmore
Maintaining Mount Rushmore is not an easy task. There is a lot of work that goes around in keeping this place in its original shape and color. Maintaining staff takes care of everything that is attached to this monument including the ground where tourist walk. There is a possibility that says because this monument is made up of granite there is a chance that it will start cracking up after some time. For this same reason, the National Park Service and the Mount Rushmore Society started doing some research with the objective of studying the structural integrity of the monument, so that, they can know the main points of weakness. During the study, they found out about the cracks created by Borglum which were made up of linseed oil, white lead, and granite dust and they realized that these cracks would not be able to keep the structure safe from moisture and water.
New Sealant And Constant Monitoring
So what can be done? The National Parks staff decided to remove all the old sealant and started replacing them with modern silicone. Why modern silicone? Modern silicone has the capability to hold a wide range of temperature that the Black Hills often face along with heavy rain. To make sure, that these cracks are not visible they were again dusted with granite powder. They also installed an electric monitoring device that enabled the caretakers to foresee the damage before it could damage the monument. This technology also allowed them to know about the temperature of the granite which in the future might get affected due to global warming.
Rarely Any Cleaning Occurs
Yes, you read it right. This monument does not require too much cleaning. The only thing that is required to keep this monument intact is the maintaining which is done quite often. The main reason for not cleaning the monument is the budget. But back in the year 2005, a company named Kärcher decided to do the country a huge favor by taking up the task of cleaning the monument that too for free. They used their own equipment and the work went on for a few weeks.
Mount Rushmore Today
If you look today, you see a beautiful monument with clean sidewalks, facilities, and with other added facilities that make the experience of visiting this place even more memorable. Today, we have the Mount Rushmore Visitors Plaza, Lincoln Borglum Museum, and the Presidential trail. The Presidential trail provides the visitors with an experience of walking around the whole monument underground. With all these additions it made Mount Rushmore the biggest attraction of South Dakota. Don’t forget the tons of activities that you can do here.
Activities At The Monument
Talking about activities, you can see several exhibits and short films in the Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center where you can know about the history of the monument. With local rangers guiding you along the tracks about the monument and information about the local tribes that are settled here even today, you also get to see the Evening Lighting Ceremony. There is also a self-guided audio tour for people who want to listen to the whole story behind this great craftsmanship.
Just like Mount Rushmore, the United States is also lucky to have this great landmark that American people call the Statue of Liberty. Do you know her true name? I bet not.
Do You Know Her True Name?
The Statue of Liberty is the most commonly known name that we know. But we never tried to find out the real name behind this tall proud woman that stands between the blue water. According to her designer Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi, her real name is Liberty Enlightening the World.
So the next time, you hear someone call her the Statue Of Liberty you can correct them by telling them about her real name. Trust me they won’t mind.