Mt. Rushmore

When we left Custer State Park to head to Mt. Rushmore, the wind was blowing 40mph with gusts up to 50mph which gave the Hippygeek yet another white knuckle drive. The winds were still blowing when we arrived which made for a memorable visit as did the Lil Dude’s previous exposure to the National Monument.

When I asked the Lil’ Dude if he knew what Mt. Rushmore was, the conversation went like this:

Lil’ Dude: Yes, I know what Mt. Rushmore is.

Mommy: Where did you learn about Mt. Rushmore?

Lil’ Dude: Mommy! I watch TV!(with attitude)

Now, I was thinking he saw a show on the History Channel or the Travel Channel or maybe they watched a video in school. But, no.

Mommy: Really?  What show did you see about Mt. Rushmore?

Lil’ Dude: It was on Phineas and Ferb!*(again with attitude, like I should have known this)

Then, the Big Dude interjects “Yeah, they carved Candice’s face in with the presidents”.

Now, I wasn’t quite sure how to respond to this. Was I supposed to be happy that he knew about Mt. Rushmore or upset because cartoons are (mis)educating my children?

For those of you who don’t watch Phineas and Ferb, the iconic rock carving in the side of a mountain in South Dakota was originally conceived by Doane Robinson, a South Dakota historian, as a way to promote tourism in the state. The original idea was to carve “famous people” but, when the sculptor, Gutzon Borglum, got involved in the project, he suggested giving it a more National focus hence, the four Presidents.

The four Presidents chosen to be on the mountain represent important moments in the country’s history:

 

Birth

George Washington, being the first President of the United States, represents the birth of the country.

 

 

 

 

Expansion

Thomas Jefferson was chosen because of his involvement in the Louisiana Purchase which doubled the size of the United States.

 

 

 

Development

Theodore Roosevelt was chosen because of his involvement in the Panama Canal and National Park system.

 

 

 

 

Preservation

Abraham Lincoln was chosen due to his Presidency during the civil war and preservation of the Union.

 

 

Construction started in 1927 and ended in 1941 with Borglum’s death.

I had visited the monument in 1996 and was quite surprised to see how the attraction has changed. There is now a huge parking structure, a gigantic ampitheatre, bookstore, cafeteria and extensive boardwalk with which to view the Monument from every possible angle. It is really well done and can accommodate a tremendous amount of visitors without feeling to crowded (at least on the day that we were there).

 

We spent a couple of hours touring the site before we blew away (the wind was still blowing 40mph) to our next destination. The Dudes seemed to be interested and enjoy the visit even though Phineas and Ferb had already taught them all they needed to know, minus Candice’s face, of course.

 

* Phineas and Ferb is a silly cartoon on the Disney Channel

“My plan is to make Rushmore a center in the heart of America so attractive, so comprehending, that the inevitable visiting world will assemble there with something more than curiosity, and go away with more than wonder.” Gutzon Borglum