Photo Album

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SCULPTURES CARVED IN THE BLACK HILLS MOUNTAINS
OF SOUTH DAKOTA PART 1
The Black Hills of South Dakota has two gigantic
carved mountains The Mount Rushmore National
Memorial and The Crazy Horse Memorial. They are
about only 8 miles apart (13 Km) and are both
spectacular. This presentation shows the Crazy
Horse Memorial is shown in part 2.
MOUNT RUSHMORE NATIONAL MEMORIAL
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MOUNT RUSHMORE NATIONAL MEMORIAL
The Mount Rushmore National memorial was started
in 1927 and was finished in 1941. There were
about 400 men and women who worked making the
sculpture. Even that there were dangerous
conditions for this type of work, no one died
during the blasting and carving process.More
than 90 of the excavation was performed by
blasting 450,000 tons of granite, using over
20,000 Lb. of dynamite. The workers were very
skilled, they could blast to within only 4" of
the finished surface.
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The sculptor for the project was Gutzon Borglum
who selected the mountain site. At 7,242 feet, it
is the highest point between the Rockies and the
Swiss Alps. Borglum selected for his sculpture
four great American Presidents. He believed that
these presidents represented the history of the
United States.  George Washington represented
the birth of the United States. Thomas
Jefferson represented the growth of the United
States.  Abraham Lincoln represented the
preservation of the United States, despite the
horror of the Civil War.  Theodore Roosevelt
represented the development of the nation.
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All the masks were built to a scale 112
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The work advanced well, but there were a few
problems. Jefferson's head was started on the
left of Washington's head. However, the rock
found there was too soft, therefore the work
already performed was blasted away and restarted
on the right side.
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MONUMENT BASIC DATA
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PNEUMATIC DRILL TO MAKE HOLES FOR DYNAMITE
INSERTION
MANUAL WINCH TO HOIST MEN AND EQUIPMENT
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THE SCULPTOR IS VERIFYING THE WORK IN
PROGRESS. UNFORTUNATELYHE DIED A FEW MONTHS
BEFORE THE SCULPTURE WAS FINISHED. HE WAS BURIED
AT THE BASE OF THE MOUNTAIN. HIS SON LINCOLN
COMPLETED THE WORK.
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MOUNT RUSHMORE BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF THE
SCULPTURE.
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MOUNT RUSHMORE IN 2009, SEEN FROM FAR AWAY.
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In 1966 Mount Rushmore was listed on the National
Register of Historical Places and in 1991 it
became a National Memorial.
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At the base of the monument there are full
facilities including an auditorium where you can
watch movies showing the history of the place and
the construction of the statues. There is also a
big terrace for a perfect view of the mountain.
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As you approach you can see the stone debris from
the blasts and excavation.
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Trees start growing on the top of rocks.
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On top of Roosevelt's head is a type of tripod
used to haul materials.The annual maintenance
uses qualified mountain climbers who monitor and
seal cracks. The Monument was cleaned only once,
in 2005, using pressurized water at over 200F.
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To see more detail you need a binocular or a
camera with a powerful zoom.
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The first American president, George Washington,
the "Father of the Country"
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The third American president, Thomas Jefferson,
who drafted The Declaration of Independence.
During his presidency, America made "The
Louisiana Purchase", doubling the size of the
nation.
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The "Great Emancipator," Abraham Lincoln, the
16th President, kept the nation united and
liberated the slaves. He paid with his life in
support of his fight for liberty for all.
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Theodore Roosevelt was America's 26th
President. During his presidency, the Panama
Canal was completed, connecting the waters of the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
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At the base of the monument there is a walking
path named the "Presidential Trail," from where
you can see the statues from different angles.
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Below the grand terrace is a large amphitheater.
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The amphitheater has a capacity for 2500 people
and each night is almost full for a ceremony
honoring the monument builders and the American
military veterans. A film is presented showing
the history of the place and the ceremony ends
with the illumination of the monument.
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Powerful light projectors and speakers surround
the monument.
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Aerial view of Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
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With regret, I am preparing to leave this
wonderful area.
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Before leaving I decided to buy a drink from this
properly decorated Coke machine
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WHAT THE PRESIDENTS WOULD SAY IF THEY COULD TALK
NOW
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Touring
information. The Mount Rushmore National Monument
is open every day of the year. There are extended
hours in summer. Entrance is free, however there
is a parking fee. The parking ticket allows
reentry if you plan to revisit for the night
ceremony. The Monument is located 24 miles from
Rapid City which can be reached by many airlines.
The nearest big city is Denver, Colorado, which
is 309 miles away or a 50 minute flight. There
are several other big attractions in the area,
like The Crazy Horse Memorial, The Badlands
National Park and The Devil Tower in Wyoming.
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One more thing. Do you want to see how the
backside of the monument looks and to see one
more explosion?
Are you sure?
Presentation and pictures (a few from the
Internet) by Dan Calistrat dcalistrat_at_aol.com
August 2009