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Show Feature SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS WEDNESDAY AUGUST S, 1997 Carve a mountain, and they will come theater. As patrotic music plays By Barbara Pyles Writers note: Along with some in the background, huge floodordinary folks from all around lights slowly illuminate the four the world, my family and I ex- presidents faces. Before the cer- plored the Black Hills of South Dakota last month. Although we had visited Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial several times, we enjoyed shar- ing the experience with our grandchildren. For those ofyou who haven't been there, I would like to share the happening with you . . . and maybe a bit ofhistory too. . Have you ever carved a bar of soap? Just imagine trying to chisel four faces on a mountain that is 5,700 feet above sea level. Over three million people a year are awed by the 60 foot high faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln carved from Mount Rushmore's granite outcropping. It would be hard to find anyone who hasnt seen pictures of these widely known four faces. They, are among the most photographed of our national treasures! A spectacular event that takes place at Mount Rushmore National Memorial is the Lighting Ceremony held each evening through Labor Day at the amphi emony a park ranger talks about the memorials history and inmovie troduces a that tells the story of the work on the mountain. Be sure and stop at the Orientation Center televito view a closed-circusion presentation. The film tells the history of the sculpture, and includes a biography of the four presidents. The Sculptors Stu-- i dio, built in 1939, displays the original models of the four presidents and tools used in the carv20-minu- te it ! ing. The initial idea for Mount Rushmore came from Doane Robinson, Superintendent of the State Historical Society. He visualized a parade of granite American explorers and Indian leaders carved on the side of a Mt. Rushmore is visited over three million tourists by every year. 7he project spanned 14 years, but the actual work mountain. It was obvious that only took six and a half years. Photo by Barbara Pyles. Robinson wanted to put South Dakota on the map. Many found setbacks while carving a gigan- then he fled across the border els. He based his models on life the idea silly, but U.S. Senator tic Confederate Memorial on into North Carolina. masks, photographs, paintings, Norbeck Peter shared Stone Mountain in Georgia. So With a warrant oyt for his descriptions and a bit of his own Robinsons dreaih.lt was up to when Robinsons carving pro- arrest in Georgia, Borglum fo- interpretations. He left plaster them to find a sculptor who could posal arrived, one can almost cused his attention on the Black copies on the mountain as a guide deal with such a challenge. hear the famous sculptor say, Hills. With his son, Lincoln, at for workmen. As the four faces Gutzon his side, the exiled sculptor emerged from the granite, many Meanwhile, Borglum, You betcha!" one of Americas most accomWhen Borglum arrived in searched for a suitable site to of the men begin to share the plished artists, was dealing wit h Rapid City, he informed Robinson carve his monument. Here is sculptors dream. and Norbeck that he would not the place! Borglum exhorted. More and more we sensed we immortalize regional heroes. As American history shall march were creattnga truly great thing, far as Robinson and Norbeck were along that skyline. Borglum and after a while all of us old concerned,, no negotiating was later confessed, That no matter hands became truly dedicated needed. Borglum could carve where we carved, roads would to it and determined to stick to whatever he liked as long as it be built and the public would it." Former Mt. Rushmore was awesome enough to draw find us. carver, Red Anderson. tourists. The skilled sculptor received theMount Rushmore comHere is the place! Borglum exhorted. Amerimission in 1925, but there would be a waiting game as supporters can history shall march along that skyline ofthe Rushmore project searched - for funding. On a sunny August day in Borglum returned to Georgia to face the problems of his Stone 1929, Borglum, 60, climbed the Mountain Project. The conflict mountains rugged summit and between Borglum and the Stone drilled six pilot holes for the head Mountain commissioners of George Washington. he At first Borglum refused to was fired. The peaked and commissioners planned to hire use dynamite on the mountain, another artist to complete the but after a time he realized that memorial accordingto Borglums blasting was the only way to drawings and models. In a rage, quickly remove large portions of Borglum destroyed his working granite. Before he blasted, the studio, and hurled his models sculptor drew preliminary sketches and formed scale mod- - over the side of the mountain, The project spanned 14 years, but the actual work took six and a half years. At todays prices, the cost was a bargain: just under one million dollars. Borglum oversaw construction until he died in 1941. His son supervised the work until America entered World War II. Mount Rushmore, also known as the Shrine to Democracy," is See Rushmore , Page 13 Open 7 daysweek OsaicedSfealis Authentic Mexican COpen 11 am CASH -- 0 FOR HOMEOWNERS Debt Consolidation and Home Improvement Loans SNo up-fro- nt costs Low rales SPoor credit OK CALL TODAY!!! (toll free) 332 West 300 North 644-322- 2 FIRST INTERMOUNTAIN MORTGAGE LLC ssaf PGOiyeOPY F StCwrgt area to yon! CkSSsow doo E HA Brokers CoasoBdated 201 E. St. George Blvd. St. George, UT 84770 Toll Fite Office 801 28-2064 Home |