The Secret Room Inside Mount Rushmore and Other Little Known Facts
Mount Rushmore is a colossal sculpture located in the Black Hills region of South Dakota, USA. The monument depicts the faces of four American presidents — George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln, carved into the granite face of the mountain. The idea of creating a monument to honor these presidents was conceived by historian Doane Robinson in the 1920s. The construction of Mount Rushmore began in 1927, and it took nearly 14 years to complete. Today, Mount Rushmore is considered one of the most iconic landmarks of the United States.
Mount Rushmore holds great importance for the American people, as it represents the country’s rich history and culture. It serves as a symbol of the values that the United States holds dear, such as democracy, freedom, and liberty. It is also a significant tourist attraction, attracting millions of visitors each year.
The Secret Room Inside Mount Rushmore
The secret room inside Mount Rushmore was discovered by accident in 1938, almost a decade after the monument’s construction had begun. A group of workers was drilling into the mountain to place dynamite when they accidentally drilled through a thin wall, revealing a small room behind it.
The purpose of the secret room has been a topic of debate and speculation for many years. Some believe it was intended to be a time capsule or a repository for important historical documents. Others suggest that it was meant to serve as a viewing platform for the public, allowing visitors to see the carving up close.
The contents of the secret room are a mystery, as the National Park Service, which manages Mount Rushmore, has never revealed what was found inside. It is known that the room is small, measuring only 12 feet by 10 feet, and is located behind the head of Abraham Lincoln.
The Unfinished Fifth Face
The original plans for Mount Rushmore included a fifth face, which was to be located to the right of Abraham Lincoln. The fifth face was intended to represent the American West and was to feature a figure of William Clark, of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
The fifth face was never completed due to a lack of funding. The project was funded by the federal government, which had set aside $250,000 for the monument’s construction. However, by the time work on the monument began, the country was in the grip of the Great Depression, and funding for the project was severely limited.
Several candidates were considered for the fifth face, including explorers, pioneers, and politicians. Some of the names that were suggested included Susan B. Anthony, John Adams, and Sacagawea. However, none of these candidates were chosen, and the fifth face was never completed.
Today, the fifth face remains unfinished, and there are no plans to complete it. The National Park Service, which manages Mount Rushmore, has stated that the monument is complete as it is and that adding a fifth face would detract from the original vision of the monument’s creators. Despite this, the idea of adding a fifth face continues to generate interest and speculation among visitors to Mount Rushmore.
The Hidden Vault
In addition to the secret room, Mount Rushmore also houses a hidden vault. The vault was created to serve as a repository for important historical documents and artifacts, with the aim of preserving them for future generations.
The contents of the vault include copies of important documents, such as the US Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, as well as other historical artifacts, such as photographs and film footage of the monument’s construction.
The vault was discovered in 1998, when a team of workers was conducting routine maintenance on the monument. The team found a small metal door hidden behind a flagstone near the monument’s entrance. Behind the door was a small room that contained the vault.
The vault serves as a time capsule, preserving important historical documents and artifacts for future generations. It is a testament to the importance of Mount Rushmore as a symbol of American heritage and a reminder of the values that the United States holds dear, such as freedom, democracy, and liberty. The discovery of the vault has also generated renewed interest in Mount Rushmore, with many visitors now eager to see the hidden room and the contents of the vault.
The Lightning Strikes
Mount Rushmore is located in an area that is prone to thunderstorms and lightning strikes. On average, the monument is struck by lightning about 20 times per year, with most strikes occurring during the summer months.
To protect the monument from lightning strikes, the National Park Service has implemented a range of measures, including lightning rods, grounding systems, and surge protectors. The lightning rods are designed to attract lightning strikes and redirect the electrical current harmlessly into the ground, while the grounding systems and surge protectors help to prevent damage to the monument’s electrical systems and equipment.
Despite these measures, the monument has still suffered damage from lightning strikes in the past. In 1937, lightning struck the arm of George Washington, causing a 10-foot crack to form in the granite. In 1991, lightning struck the monument’s visitor center, causing extensive damage to the building and its electrical systems.
The Carving Process
The carving of Mount Rushmore involved a complex and lengthy process that took several years to complete. The process involved the following steps:
- Selection of the site: The site for the monument was carefully chosen based on its suitability for carving and its aesthetic appeal.
- Preparation of the site: The site was cleared of trees and other obstacles to make way for the carving process.
- Blasting of the granite: The initial carving of the monument involved the use of dynamite to blast away large portions of the granite rock.
- Rough carving: Once the initial blasting was completed, the sculptors began rough carving the faces of the presidents, using jackhammers and other tools to shape the features of the faces.
- Fine carving: After the rough carving was completed, the sculptors began the process of fine carving, which involved the use of chisels and other precision tools to create the intricate details of the faces.
The carving of Mount Rushmore was a monumental undertaking that presented a number of challenges for the sculptors. Some of the challenges that they faced included:
- The hardness of the granite: The granite rock at Mount Rushmore is extremely hard and difficult to carve, making the process slow and labor-intensive.
- Weather conditions: The site of the monument is prone to extreme weather conditions, including high winds, heavy rain, and snow, which made working conditions difficult for the sculptors.
- Safety concerns: The use of dynamite and heavy machinery during the carving process presented significant safety concerns for the workers.
The sculptors used a range of tools to carve the faces of the presidents, including jackhammers, chisels, drills, and pneumatic hammers. These tools were used to remove large portions of the granite and to create the intricate details of the faces.
The carving of Mount Rushmore took over 14 years to complete, from the initial planning stages to the final finishing touches. The work was carried out by a team of skilled sculptors and laborers, who worked tirelessly to create one of the most iconic landmarks in American history.
Mount Rushmore is a national treasure that is steeped in history and rich in symbolism.
Here are 10 trivia facts about the monument that you may not have known:
- The sculptor, Gutzon Borglum, initially intended to carve the presidents down to their waists, but the project was scaled back due to budget constraints.
- Mount Rushmore was originally known as “The Six Grandfathers” by the Lakota Sioux, who considered the mountain sacred.
- The project was almost cancelled due to a lack of funding during the Great Depression.
- The faces of the presidents were carved in a specific order: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and then Abraham Lincoln.
- The monument attracts over 2 million visitors per year.
- Mount Rushmore is also home to a vast network of hiking trails, which offer stunning views of the monument and the surrounding Black Hills.
- The monument was designed to withstand winds of up to 140 miles per hour.
- The faces of the presidents were originally meant to be carved facing east, but Borglum decided to face them towards the setting sun for better lighting.
- The granite used to carve the monument is estimated to be over 1.5 billion years old.
- There is a time capsule hidden behind the cornerstone of the Mount Rushmore National Monument that contains important historical documents and artifacts.
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