23 Interesting Facts for Kids About Mount Rushmore!

Whether you're a social studies teacher or taking your little ones on a trip to the Mount Rushmore National Memorial, kids of all ages will love these Mount Rushmore facts!

If you or your younger ones are more interested in a specific aspect of Mount Rushmore, we've broken out this list out into seven sections for easier navigation!

23 INTERESTING Mount Rushmore facts!

U.S. Presidents

#1: The four U.S. presidents whose faces have been carved into Mount Rushmore are (from left to right): George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln

#2: The faces of the presidents were chosen to represent different periods in the history of the United States: George Washington for the country's founding, Thomas Jefferson for its expansion, Abraham Lincoln for its preservation, and Theodore Roosevelt for its development.

#3: The faces of the presidents are each about 60 feet tall and were carved into the granite of Mount Rushmore, which is about 5,725 feet above sea level.

#4: Mount Rushmore represents more than just the four U.S. presidents; it also symbolizes the years of American history that led to the creation of a country that values freedom and democracy.

#5: The Hall of Records is a secret room located behind Abraham Lincoln's head, which contains porcelain enamel panels with the text of the Declaration of Independence and other important U.S. documents.

Native American Tribes

#6: The Lakota Sioux, who consider the Black Hills to be sacred ground, were not consulted about the carving of Mount Rushmore and were not happy with the result.

#7: The Crazy Horse Memorial, which is located nearby, is a colossal sculpture that was commissioned by the Lakota Sioux as a response to the carving of Mount Rushmore.

Charles E. Rushmore

#8: Mount Rushmore was named after Charles E. Rushmore, a prominent New York lawyer who visited the Black Hills of South Dakota in 1885.

Original Plan for Mt. Rushmore

#9: The original plan was to carve the full bodies of the four presidents, but due to lack of funds, the carvings were reduced to just the presidents' faces.

#10: The original idea for the sculpture came from South Dakota historian Doane Robinson, who wanted to attract tourists to the state.

#11: The Mount Rushmore Memorial was originally intended to feature the president's faces from the waist up, but the idea was changed due to lack of funds.

Carving of Mount Rushmore

#12: The carving of Mount Rushmore began in 1927 and was completed in 1941, taking 14 years to finish.

#13: The project was spearheaded by American sculptor Gutzon Borglum, who oversaw the entire project from initial plans to final completion.

#14: The carving of Mount Rushmore was funded by the federal government during the Great Depression and provided jobs for many workers who were struggling during that time.

#15: The sculpture is made up of 400 workers, who used dynamite and jackhammers to carve over 450,000 tons of rock into the massive sculpture.

#16: The faces of the presidents were carved from the granite in small pieces, which were then carefully placed together to form the final sculpture.

#17: The bald eagle, which is a symbol of the United States of America, was included in the original plans for the sculpture but was never carved.

#18: President Calvin Coolidge played a key role in the carving of Mount Rushmore by authorizing federal funding for the project.

#19: The granite face of Mount Rushmore is made up of three different types of granite: Harney Peak granite, which is a pinkish-gray color; Fine-grained granite, which is a light-gray color; and Keystone granite, which is a dark-gray color.

Black Hills of South Dakota

#20: Mount Rushmore is located in the Black Hills of Keystone, South Dakota, and is one of the most famous sculptures in the world!

#21: The Mount Rushmore Memorial includes a grand view terrace, which provides visitors with a panoramic view of the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Legacy of Mt. Rushmore

#22: The Mount Rushmore National Memorial attracts over 2 million visitors every year and has a visitor center where visitors can learn more about the history of the United States and the Memorial.

#23: Mount Rushmore is known as the "shrine of democracy" because it represents the ideals of freedom, liberty, and democracy that the Founding Fathers established.

BONUS FACT!

Mount Rushmore rises above and is surrounded by a massive collection of scenic ponderosa pines which are drought tolerant and can live to be several hundred years old!

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