Of the four U.S. presidents depicted on Mount Rushmore, two were members of the Republican Party, one was a member of the Democratic Party, and one was an independent. Mount Rushmore National Memorial was completed on October 31, 1941. It was built on sacred Indigenous Land and is surrounded by controversy.
Conceived as a way to draw tourism to South Dakota, the Mount Rushmore National Memorial has certainly done that; it is the top tourist attraction in the state. Visitors from all over the world flock to see the massive presidential portraits carved into the mountain. However, the origins of how these portraits got there are a complex tale of land grabs, egos, and foiled movie plans.
Criticism from the Ogala Sioux and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribes in South Dakota were highlighted after Trump's 2020 Fourth of July celebration at Mount Rushmore. These tribes have long-standing grievances regarding the taking of their ancestral lands for the memorial. The event reignited the ongoing debate about the treatment of Indigenous peoples and the significance of Mount Rushmore as a symbol of American history.
The youngest person to serve as president was President Theodore Roosevelt, who was 42 years old when he assumed the office. While his face is not among the iconic portraits on Mount Rushmore, his presidency left a lasting impact on the nation. Roosevelt's progressive policies and conservation efforts laid the foundation for the preservation of America's natural resources.
Some of the presidential libraries asked an interesting question on Twitter. If you could put four new presidents' faces on Mount Rushmore, who would you choose? This playful hypothetical scenario sparks debates and discussions about the legacies of past and present presidents, as well as the criteria for immortalizing them on such a grand scale.
Is there room for a fifth face on Mount Rushmore? The National Park Service says no, as there is no secure surface on the mountain for additional carvings. This limitation ensures the preservation and integrity of the existing portraits, which have become an iconic symbol of American history and democracy.
In a different context, Confederate President Jefferson Davis has been toppled from the most iconic street in Richmond, Va., and his neighbor, rebel Gen. Robert E. Lee, faces an uncertain future on Monument Avenue. This raises questions about who and what we choose to honor in our public spaces, and whether Mount Rushmore should be reevaluated in light of changing societal values.
In conclusion, the presidents at Mount Rushmore represent a significant part of American history and have become a major tourist attraction. However, the controversy surrounding the memorial's location on sacred Indigenous Land and ongoing debates about who should be honored on such a grand scale highlight the complex nature of this iconic landmark. The legacy of the presidents and the values they represent continue to shape discussions about Congress, the White House, gun laws, national security, and international perceptions of the United States.
