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Itinerary:

Today, we will read the book “Who Carved the Mountain?” by Jean L.S. Patrick.  Then, we will view the PBS presentation of “Carving a Mountain.”  After we watch the video, we will discuss Mount Rushmore and label it on our map. 

 

After we have done this, we will create a postcard from Mount Rushmore with three facts and one question on the back.

 

We will also go to the computer lab and do an interactive puzzle online where students put Mount Rushmore together.

 

 

Where is Mount Rushmore?

 

 

 

Links:

"Carving a Mountain" from PBS

Mount Rushmore puzzle

 

 

Important Information about Mount Rushmore:

Mount Rushmore is located in southwest South Dakota, in the area known as the Black Hills.  The memorial covers 1,278 acres.

 

It is a Presidential Memorial that represents the first 150 years of the history of the United States of America.  George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln are featured because of their national focus.

 

The statues are 60 ft. high each.

 

 

The idea for Mount Rushmore was created by Doane Robinson, the superintendent of the State Historical Society, and a U.S. Sentaor, Peter Norbeck.  They recruited Gutzon Borglum to sculpt the monument.   The sculptor created a model on 1-to-12 inch scale, which means an inch on the model was a foot on the cliff.

 

The carving of Mount Rushmore started in 1927 and ended in 1941.  Over 400 workers helped to create the sculpture.  They used dynamite and a process known as “honeycombing” to create the sculpture.  Mount Rushmore is mostly composed of granite.

 

 

Mount Rushmore is the number one tourist attraction in South Dakota.

 

There were no deaths and only a couple of injuries during the entire period of carving Mount Rushmore.

 

The drillers made about $1.25 per hour on the project, but were often laid off due to lack of funds or weather.

 

When Mount Rushmore was completed, Borglum began to create a giant vault in the canyon behind Mount Rushmore after it’s completion.  It was to hold a “Hall of Records,” but never finished due to Borglum’s death and World War II.

 

Mount Rushmore is featured on South Dakota’s state quarter.