Tourist Attraction - Hall of Records 14
A view from the rear of the Hall of Records chamber
Tourist Attraction - Hall of Records 8
Red paint instructions for rock removal
Icon National Parks of South Dakota, public domain photograph
South Dakota boasts an impressive list of iconic National Parks including Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Badlands National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument and more. Whether your plans are for hiking, biki... More
rocky mountain iris - National Parks Gallery
This native iris flowers from May to June Public domain scan of drawing, 20th-century botanical illustration, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Mariposa Lily, Mount Rushmore national memorial
This plant blooms from June to early August and can be eaten by humans and wildlife.
National parks: Harebell - public domain image
This small plant is common throughout the Black Hills and blooms from June to September.
Ponderosa Pine Trees - National Parks Gallery
Ponderosa pines make up about 70% of the trees in the Black Hills. On a warm summer day, head out on the Nature Trail and take a deep breath. Do you smell that sweet fragrance of butterscotch or vanilla? You ar... More
First Amendment Area 3 - Public Domain image, National Parks Gallery
View of First Amendment Area 3 - Borglum View Terrace.
First Amendment Area 2 - Public Domain image, National Parks Gallery
View of First Amendment Area 2 - amphitheater. Public domain photograph of theater building, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
National parks: pasqueflower - public domain image
Picryl description: Public domain image of a flower, blooming, botanical illustration, free to use, no copyright restrictions.
Rocky Mountain Juniper - National Parks Gallery
On a spring day in the Black Hills, you can catch the scent of juniper on the breeze. The scent is a bit like pine but difficult to describe. Next time you see a Rocky Mountain juniper, smell the aromatic branc... More
Designated First Amendment Areas 1 and 1A
A view of Designated First Amendment Area 1 (right side of walkway) and Designated First Amendment Area 1A (left side of walkway) between the Information Center and concession buildings.
Plains Cottonwood, Mount Rushmore national memorial
Imagine walking across the dry plains that surround the Black Hills. In the distance you might see a tall tree that seems to shimmer. That shimmer is created by shiny cottonwood leaves rustling in the wind. You... More
Common Juniper, Mount Rushmore national memorial
The blue berry-like cones of the common juniper are an important source of food during the winter for some birds, small mammals and deer. Different parts of the common juniper have traditionally been used to t... More
Bur Oak, Mount Rushmore national memorial
Looking for a place to rest during a hike or to have a picnic? Keep an eye out for the bur oak. Bur oaks have large canopies with plenty of shade. You will also find great wildlife watching as the acorns draw b... More
Designated First Amendment Area Three
A view of Designated First Amendment Area Three, the Borglum View Terrace near the Sculptor's Studio.
Designated First Amendment Area Two
A view of Designated First Amendment Area Two - the memorial amphitheater in front of the Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center.
Mountain Ninebark, Mount Rushmore national memorial
Mountain ninebark is a small shrub with numerous slender stems with light pink flowers. Ninebark is eaten by some mammals, especially during the winter when other food sources are unavailable or covered with snow.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial - Homestead National Monument of Ame...
“My piece is inspired by the grandeur of the sculpture itself. Reading the history of how the artwork was created was fascinating. The sheer enormity of the project and the vision to carry it out was an incred... More
Common Juniper, Mount Rushmore national memorial
Common junipers are low spreading shrubs that thrive beneath the ponderosa pine trees. Their needle-like leave are very short and spiky.
Borglum plants the flag. - Public Domain image, National Parks Gallery
Gutzon Borglum plants a U.S. Flag at the top of Mount Rushmore, October 1, 1925. He is accompanied by Jesse Giles (middle) and Ray Sanders (right). Photo courtesy of the U.S. National Park Service.
President Coolidge at the 1927 dedication.
President Calvin Coolidge speaks at the dedication of Mount Rushmore National Memorial, August 10, 1927.
Charles D'Emery 22 - National Parks Gallery
Mount Rushmore in the winter Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Gutzon Borglum and supt. inspecting work on face nose of Washington, M...
J11542 U.S. Copyright Office. cf. America's Yesterdays, p. 269. This record contains unverified, old data from caption card.
Workmen on face of George Washington, Mt. Rushmore
J11796 U.S. Copyright Office. Copyright by Rise Studio, Rapid City, S. Dak.
Gutzon Borglum's model of Mt. Rushmore memorial--Washington, Jefferson...
J19889 U.S. Copyright Office. No. 675. Copyright by Rise Studio. Public domain image related to President Abraham Lincoln, gelatin silver print, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Lincoln figure under construction.
The face of Abraham Lincoln under construction on Mount Rushmore in 1936 with Gutzon Borglum monitoring the work.
Washington and Jefferson under construction
Scaffolding is set up around the Jefferson face for workers carving the memorial in 1936.
Norman "Hap" Anderson, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, 2016.
Date unknown. Hap was 23 years old in 1935 when he began carving the memorial under supervision of master carver Gutzon Borglum. Anderson started as a junior driller, advanced to senior driller and eventually b... More
Plaster model of Mount Rushmore
This is the final version of the plaster model used to carve Mount Rushmore located in the second studio at Mount Rushmore which was built in 1939 and finished in 1940.
Model in the original on-site studio
This is the plaster model created by Gutzon Borglum in the first on-site sculptor's studio. Measurements were taken from this model and transferred to the mountain.
Charles D'Emery 21 - National Parks Gallery
Mount Rushmore in the winter Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
John "Edwald" Hayes, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, 2016.
Date unknown. Hayes, known by the name 'Ed', worked at Mount Rushmore for 54 months from 1935 to 1941. As money and weather allowed, the carving years employees worked whenever they could. Hayes could attest to... More
Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota
The four figures carved in stone on Mount Rushmore represent the first 150 years of American history. The birth of our nation was guided by the vision and courage of George Washington. Thomas Jefferson always h... More
Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota
The four figures carved in stone on Mount Rushmore represent the first 150 years of American history. The birth of our nation was guided by the vision and courage of George Washington. Thomas Jefferson always h... More
Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota
The four figures carved in stone on Mount Rushmore represent the first 150 years of American history. The birth of our nation was guided by the vision and courage of George Washington. Thomas Jefferson always h... More
Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota
The four figures carved in stone on Mount Rushmore represent the first 150 years of American history. The birth of our nation was guided by the vision and courage of George Washington. Thomas Jefferson always h... More
Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota
The four figures carved in stone on Mount Rushmore represent the first 150 years of American history. The birth of our nation was guided by the vision and courage of George Washington. Thomas Jefferson always h... More
Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota
The four figures carved in stone on Mount Rushmore represent the first 150 years of American history. The birth of our nation was guided by the vision and courage of George Washington. Thomas Jefferson always h... More
Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota
The four figures carved in stone on Mount Rushmore represent the first 150 years of American history. The birth of our nation was guided by the vision and courage of George Washington. Thomas Jefferson always h... More
Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota
The four figures carved in stone on Mount Rushmore represent the first 150 years of American history. The birth of our nation was guided by the vision and courage of George Washington. Thomas Jefferson always h... More
Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota
The four figures carved in stone on Mount Rushmore represent the first 150 years of American history. The birth of our nation was guided by the vision and courage of George Washington. Thomas Jefferson always h... More
Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota
The four figures carved in stone on Mount Rushmore represent the first 150 years of American history. The birth of our nation was guided by the vision and courage of George Washington. Thomas Jefferson always h... More
Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota
The four figures carved in stone on Mount Rushmore represent the first 150 years of American history. The birth of our nation was guided by the vision and courage of George Washington. Thomas Jefferson always h... More
Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota
The four figures carved in stone on Mount Rushmore represent the first 150 years of American history. The birth of our nation was guided by the vision and courage of George Washington. Thomas Jefferson always h... More
Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway - Mount Rushmore National Memorial
The original finding aid described this photograph as: Original Caption: The profiles of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln etched into the cliff face mark one of the United States' most recognizable... More
Ceremony at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota, marking th...
Photographs Documenting the Secretary's Activities, and Agency Officials, Events, Programs, and Managed Sites
National Park Service presence at ceremony at Mount Rushmore National ...
Photographs Documenting the Secretary's Activities, and Agency Officials, Events, Programs, and Managed Sites
James Nelson, of the Mount Rushmore Institute and the Mount Rushmore N...
Photographs Documenting the Secretary's Activities, and Agency Officials, Events, Programs, and Managed Sites
South Dakota Congressman John Thune speaking at ceremony at Mount Rush...
Photographs Documenting the Secretary's Activities, and Agency Officials, Events, Programs, and Managed Sites
South Dakota Congressman John Thune speaking at ceremony at Mount Rush...
Photographs Documenting the Secretary's Activities, and Agency Officials, Events, Programs, and Managed Sites
South Dakota Congressman John Thune speaking at ceremony at Mount Rush...
Photographs Documenting the Secretary's Activities, and Agency Officials, Events, Programs, and Managed Sites
James Nelson, of the Mount Rushmore Institute and the Mount Rushmore N...
Photographs Documenting the Secretary's Activities, and Agency Officials, Events, Programs, and Managed Sites
National Park Service presence at ceremony at Mount Rushmore National ...
Photographs Documenting the Secretary's Activities, and Agency Officials, Events, Programs, and Managed Sites
James Nelson, of the Mount Rushmore Institute and the Mount Rushmore N...
Photographs Documenting the Secretary's Activities, and Agency Officials, Events, Programs, and Managed Sites
Tourist Attraction - Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Mount Rushmore National Memorial Public domain photograph of a sculpture, monument, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Black Hills Spruce - National Parks Gallery
Black Hills spruce trees in the far right side of an image with the back of Mount Rushmore in the distance.
Quaking Aspens, Mount Rushmore national memorial
Can you hear the soft, steady rustling of leaves? Does that tree seem to be shaking all over in just a slight breeze? You might be looking at a quaking aspen. Aspen look similar to birch, but you can look for t... More
Red-breasted Nuthatch - National Parks Gallery
A Red-breasted Nuthatch sitting on the ground at Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
Townsend's Solitaire, Mount Rushmore national memorial
A Townsend's solitaire perched on a branch of a small ponderosa pine at Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
White-breasted Nuthatch - National Parks Gallery
A White-breasted Nuthatch climbing down the bark of a ponderosa pine tree.
Mount Rushmore Through the Trees
Mount Rushmore under a bright blue sky with ponderosa pines and a granite outcropping in the foreground.
Mount Rushmore Viewed from the Presidential Trail
A close-up photo of Mount Rushmore from the Presidential Trail.
Wild Bergamot, Mount Rushmore national memorial
Wild Bergamot is also known as bee balm. It is eaten mostly by bighorn sheep and mountain goats. Bergamot contains a natural antiseptic that has been used to treat colds, coughs and infections.
Blackeyed Susan, Mount Rushmore national memorial
Blackeyed Susans are a well known common wildflower often seen in small groups.
Mount Rushmore from Highway 244
Mount Rushmore under a bright blue sky with ponderosa pines in the foreground.
Maureen in Studio - National Parks Gallery
Maureen Young from Historic Scotland uses the Leica Scanstation C10 to scan the historic Sculptor's Studio.
Plaster Models Inside the Exhibit Hall
Plaster models of Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and George Washington on display in the Exhibit Hall inside the Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center. These models could be suspended on the mountain for the carve... More
Through Tunnel, Mount Rushmore national memorial
Through a tunnel on Iron Mountain Road. Picryl description: Public domain photograph of National Park, nature, free to use, no copyright restrictions image.
Mount Rushmore, Mount Rushmore national memorial
View of Mount Rushmore from the Iron Mountain Road.
Inside a winch house - Public Domain image, National Parks Gallery
Winch houses were built on top of Mount Rushmore during the construction. Workers in Bosun's chairs attached to steel cables would be raised and lowered by the winches while they worked on the carving.
Teamwork for Tripod - National Parks Gallery
Scanning team members from Historic Scotland, the Glasgow School of Art and the Mount Rushmore technical ropes team work together to prepare the tripod that they will use to scan the sculpture.
Scanning in the Hall of Records
Lyn Wilson (Historic Scotland), Doug Pritchard (Glasgow School of Art), and Chris McGregor (Historic Scotland) set up the Leica Scanstation C10 in the Hall of Records.
Great Horned Owl - National Parks Gallery
A great horned owl sits on a ponderosa pine branch. Its feathers blend very well with the bark of the pine providing camouflage.
Old Visitor Center at Mount Rushmore
The old Visitor Center at Mount Rushmore.
Washington figure under construction
President George Washington's face beginning to emerge on Mount Rushmore.
Timeline Display, Mount Rushmore national memorial
Photo of a timeline display in the Exhibit Hall highlighting the historical events during the lives of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt.
Setting a target - National Parks Gallery
Doug Pritchard of the Glasgow School of Art works with the Mount Rushmore technical ropes team to set a reference target on top of George Washington's head.
Tourist Attraction - Highline haul 2
Mount Rushmore's technical ropes team uses a highline ropes system to haul scanning equipment to the top of the sculpture.
Mount Rushmore before carving - Public Domain image, National Parks Ga...
Gutzon Borglum picked this mountain and location because the grain of the rock was suitable for carving and the mountain faced southeast which meant it would be in the sun for much of the day.
Al scanning sculpture - National Parks Gallery
Al Rawlinson from the Glasgow School of Art prepares the Leica Scanstation 2 to scan the Mount Rushmore sculpture.
Dedications Display, Mount Rushmore national memorial
Image of a section of the Exhibit Hall containing information about the dedication ceremonies held at Mount Rushmore during construction and on the 50th anniversary of completion of the sculpture.
Full view of Mount Rushmore - Public Domain image, National Parks Gall...
Full view of Mount Rushmore Public domain photograph of a sculpture, monument, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Tourist Attraction - Mount Rushmore after completion.
Black and white photo of Mount Rushmore after completion. Public domain photograph of a sculpture, monument, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Tourist Attraction - Scanning on Jefferson
Doug Pritchard of the Glasgow School of Art works with the Mount Rushmore technical ropes team to begin scanning on top of Thomas Jefferson.
Full view of Mount Rushmore - Public Domain image, National Parks Gall...
View of the sculpture from the Sculptor's Studio area. Public domain photograph of a sculpture, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Lyn scanning sculpture - National Parks Gallery
Lyn Wilson of Historic Scotland scans the Mount Rushmore sculpture from the base of the talus slope with a Leica Scanstation C10.
Scanstation 2 in front of the sculpture
The Leica Scanstation 2 appears in front of the Mount Rushmore sculpture.
Tourist Attraction - Mount Rushmore with snow
Mount Rushmore after a brief December snow storm. Picryl description: Public domain photograph of National Park, nature, free to use, no copyright restrictions image.
Driller Honeycombing, Mount Rushmore national memorial
A driller uses a jackhammer drill to honeycomb the granite while carving Mount Rushmore. This was one of the final stages in removing the excess rock during the carving process.
Tourist Attraction - In the snow
In the snow. Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Aerial view of construction - Public Domain image, National Parks Gall...
Aerial view of Mount Rushmore National Memorial as it neared completion.
Tourist Attraction - Scanning from Jefferson
Doug Pritchard from the Glasgow School of Art and a member from the Mount Rushmore technical ropes team wait for the laser scanner to complete a scan from the top of Theodore Roosevelt.
Powderman John Johnson - National Parks Gallery
Charges of dynamite being prepared by John Johnson. Public domain photograph of industrial workers, factory building, work, assembly line, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Ropes team with tripod - Public Domain image, National Parks Gallery
Members from the Mount Rushmore National Memorial technical ropes team work with a custom made tripod to get a detail scan of Theodore Roosevelt's eyes.
Washington Profile, Mount Rushmore national memorial
Side view of Washington. Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Sculptor Gutzon Borglum - National Parks Gallery
Gutzon Borglum, sculptor of Mount Rushmore, is shown here in a Bosun's chair inspecting the work on the memorial. Workers used the Bosun's chairs, suspended from above, while they drilled with jackhammers into ... More
George Washington, Mount Rushmore national memorial
View of George Washington on Mount Rushmore.
Mount Rushmore in the sun - Public Domain image, National Parks Galler...
Mount Rushmore in full sunlight. Picryl description: Public domain photograph of National Park, nature, free to use, no copyright restrictions image.
Maureen Young in the Studio - Public Domain image, National Parks Gall...
Maureen Young of Historic Scotland uses the Leica Scanstation C10 in the historic Sculptor's Studio.