Mount Rushmore

Walk Two Moon and Mount Rushmore

"We drove through the Black Hills to Mt. Rushmore.  At first we didn't think we were in the right place, but then, jing-bang, it was right before us.  There, high up on a cliff face, were the sixty-foot-tall faces of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt, carved right in to the rock, staring somberly down on us.

It was fine seeing the presidents, I've got nothing against the presidents, but you'd think the Sioux would be mighty sad to have those white faces carved into their sacred hill.  I bet my mother was upset.  I wondered why whoever carved them couldn't have put a couple Indians up there too." (p. 179)

 

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Books about Mount Rushmore found in our library

Moon Handbooks

A guide to visiting Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills, offering trip planning advice, describing the attractions of four regions, providing lists of places to eat and stay, and including maps, photographs, and suggested itineraries.

 

Mount Rushmore

Discusses the history and construction of South Dakota's Mount Rushmore, and provides facts about the four presidents represented there: Washington, Jeffereson, Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt.

 

Mount Rushmore

Examines the history of the unique national monument in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Mount Rushmore, discussing financial issues, government involvement, and the actual process of carving this memorial.

 

Mount Rushmore Story

A biography of the sculptor who devoted the last fourteen years of his life to the carving of the four presidents' heads on the face of Mount Rushmore.

 

M is for Mount Rushmore :  a South Dakota Alphabet

A rhyming alphabet that names people, places, and things from South Dakota's history, culture, and natural world and provides background information on each one.

Try your hand at finding more books in our library about Mount Rushmore here.  Think about using keywords associated with Mount Rushmore like South Dakota and Black Hills.

Books about Mount Rushmore found elsewhere

Monumental verses  

by Lewis, J. Patrick

Presents a collection of poems that celebrate the man-made monuments from around the globe and through the ages, including Stonehenge, the Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower, Mount Rushmore, and others.

 

 

Mount Rushmore  

by Thomas, William, 1947-

Includes bibliographical references (p. 46) and index.;The importance of Mount Rushmore -- The Black Hills -- The project begins -- "It looks very well" -- Visiting Mount Rushmore today. Discusses the importance of Mount Rushmore in American history, examines the monument as a symbol of the United States, and describes how it was constructed.

 

Mount Rushmore  

by Santella, Andrew

Includes index. Relates how the Mount Rushmore National Memorial, known as "The Shrine of Democracy," was conceived, designed, and created.

 

 

Uniquely South Dakota 

by Anderson, Reuben

Includes bibliographical references (p. 47) and index.;Uniquely South Dakota -- South Dakota's geography and climate -- Famous firsts -- South Dakota's state symbols -- South Dakota's history and people -- Mount Rushmore -- South Dakota's state government -- South Dakota's culture -- South Dakota's food -- South Dakota's folklore and legends --South Dakota's sports teams -- South Dakota's businesses and products -- Attractions and landmarks. Describes the unique characteristics of South Dakota, covering its famous firsts, state symbols, state government, culture, food, sports teams, businesses and products, attraction and landmarks, and folklore and legends, and includes a local recipe.

South Dakota : the Mount Rushmore State 

by Glaser, Jason

Includes index.;Breathtaking South Dakota -- Hunting for food and gold -- Hot and cold -- What lives in South Dakota? -- Living off the land -- Rocks, hills, and plains -- Welcome to Pierre -- Faces in the mountains -- Land of opposites -- Glossary -- South Dakota at a glance. A photographic introduction to South Dakota, discussing the history, geographical features, industries, wildlife, attractions, and other aspects of the Mount Rushmore State.

Statues and monuments  

by Foran, Jill
Includes bibliographical references (p. 22) and index.;The Statue of Liberty -- Washington Monument -- The Lincoln Memorial -- Mount Rushmore -- More national memorials -- Memorials everywhere -- American's statues -- Further research -- Create your own monument. Photographs and simple text introduce young readers to the statues and monuments which reflect the history, diversity, and heritage of America.

Mount Rushmore

by Koehler, Susan, 1963-

Includes bibliographical references (p. 31) and index.;What is Mount Rushmore? -- How Mount Rushmore came to be -- Meet the presidents -- "Here is the place!" -- How was Mount Rushmore built? -- How big are the faces? -- Borglum's vision -- Native Americans in the Black Hills -- An American landmark. Introduces children to the history of Mount Rushmore and explains how the monument became a national symbol in the United States.
Books and notes found at Titlewave

Other Reading about Mount Rushmore

Not every Dakotan welcomed Doane Robinson's idea to invite Gutzon Borglum to carve Mount Rushmore into sculpture. A professor at the University of South Dakota, John Tjaden, wrote a poem about the project which was published in local newspapers in 1926:

When God made our matchless playground,
He did not intend that man should
even in his wildest ravings
dare to come with hammer, chisel,
block and tackle, pick and mallet,
to profane His age-old record,
to profane the face of Rushmore
by his puny, pygmy scratches.

Why should man presume to alter
the Creator's masterpieces,
wrought in everlasting granite,
wrought by forces so titanic
that no scientist can measure,
that no human mind can master?
And to think that man, presumptive,
should deface and mutilate them!

Men and women, 'tis your duty
to lift up your earnest voices,
to the end that all our people
forthwith band themselves together
to preserve from desecration
finished products from God's workshop
and placed by that Master-Artist
in the playground of Dakota.

From Smith, Rex Alan. The Carving of Mount Rushmore. New York: Abbeville Press, 1985, pp. 116-7.

Web Resources for Students

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