People are learning about the original design of Mount Rushmore, which included full figures of the presidents before funding stopped.
Mount Rushmore is one of the most famous landmarks in the United States, located in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
It features the faces of four important American presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.
Each face is about 60 feet tall and attracts millions of visitors every year.
However, many people are now learning about what Mount Rushmore was originally supposed to look like before funding ran out.
People discovered the initial look of Mount Rushmore before funding ran out
The project began in 1927 under the guidance of sculptor Gutzon Borglum and his son, Lincoln Borglum.
Their goal was to create a grand monument that would celebrate the history and growth of the United States.
The original design included not just the heads of the presidents, but also their torsos, clothed in outfits from their respective periods.
This would have made the monument much more detailed and impressive.
Recently, images of the original design were shared on social media, and many people were surprised.
The plaster models showed how the faces were meant to be part of a larger sculpture that included the upper bodies of the presidents.
Additionally, the initial plan featured a large entablature, which would have displayed important events from American history.
This part of the design was ultimately scrapped due to various challenges.
Why did the design was eventually scrapped?
One major reason for the change in plans was funding.
When the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Act was signed in 1927, President Calvin Coolidge promised federal funding for the project.
However, Gutzon Borglum decided to accept only half of the funds, believing he could raise the rest through private donations.
This decision turned out to be a mistake, especially when the Great Depression hit, making financial support unpredictable.
During the construction, Gutzon focused on securing more funds, while Lincoln oversaw the work on the mountain.
Unfortunately, they faced geological problems that complicated the project.
The original locations for the presidents’ faces had to be adjusted, and they realized that the text on the entablature would be hard to read from below.
As a result, the entablature idea was abandoned.
Gutzon Borglum passed away in 1941, and after his death, the project was completed under Lincoln’s supervision.
Due to financial issues and geological challenges, the monument was declared finished on October 31, 1941.
However, it was not completed as originally envisioned because of the impact of World War II.
The monument was built on land that was taken from the Native American Sioux Nation in the 1870s.
Before it was named Mount Rushmore, the Lakota people referred to the granite formation as Tunkasila Sakpe Paha, or Six Grandfathers Mountain.
This site was significant for the Native American community as a place for prayer and spiritual devotion.
Experts have pointed out that the construction of Mount Rushmore raises important questions about land rights and historical injustices.
Christine Gish Hill, an anthropology professor, noted that the history of the Black Hills is a clear example of theft according to U.S. laws.
Many people have reacted to this revelation online.
Some expressed surprise that the monument was intended to be more than just the faces of the presidents.
Many people found it fascinating that the original design included full-body sculptures.
This addition would have made the site even more remarkable.
While Mount Rushmore is an iconic symbol of American history, it also has a controversial background.
Instead of talking about what it supposed to look like when they took it from the Lakota people and made it into an unimpressive tour trap.
It was beautiful before and it meant a lot to the people, one user said.
It was supposed to look like an indigenous sacred land, the second user commented.
So many people hating their own country. Leave and see how other countries treat those who hate.
Too why haven’t you haters complained about the Indian monument that’s is a money trap and has not moved forward is over a decade. Love America or leave It, the third user said.
All these people saying they were amazed at how impressive the monument was, and I couldn’t disagree more
Now that I’ve seen it once, I’ll probably never go back, another wrote.