Comments on: Five Faces of Rushmore? Not Likely http://www.blackhillstravelblog.com/five-faces-of-rushmore-not-likely/ Exploring the Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming, with videos, photos, maps and experiences from young vacationers, couples and families. Wed, 07 Jan 2009 04:44:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.3 By: historybug http://www.blackhillstravelblog.com/five-faces-of-rushmore-not-likely/#comment-646 historybug Thu, 01 May 2008 15:08:14 +0000 http://www.blackhillstravelblog.com/five-faces-of-rushmore-not-likely/#comment-646 Now see, your argument about "art" doesn't help me, Dan - I think "The Last Supper" would be greatly improved by the addition of Mother Teresa, or maybe Gandhi. And don't you think there are plenty of other American ideals that merit addition to the collection which Borglum *started*? "Detonation," for example. Oh but wait, we're not supposed to commemorate living presidents, are we? Now see, your argument about “art” doesn’t help me, Dan - I think “The Last Supper” would be greatly improved by the addition of Mother Teresa, or maybe Gandhi. And don’t you think there are plenty of other American ideals that merit addition to the collection which Borglum *started*? “Detonation,” for example. Oh but wait, we’re not supposed to commemorate living presidents, are we?

]]> By: Myra http://www.blackhillstravelblog.com/five-faces-of-rushmore-not-likely/#comment-641 Myra Thu, 01 May 2008 11:47:02 +0000 http://www.blackhillstravelblog.com/five-faces-of-rushmore-not-likely/#comment-641 Wow.. What a history lesson. Wow.. What a history lesson.

]]> By: Dan http://www.blackhillstravelblog.com/five-faces-of-rushmore-not-likely/#comment-635 Dan Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:58:49 +0000 http://www.blackhillstravelblog.com/five-faces-of-rushmore-not-likely/#comment-635 Thanks for the additional info. (And thanks for letting me steal your idea.) I didn't realize Jefferson was included because of the Louisiana Purchase. And our timing for today's thread is good. Today is the 219th anniversary of Washington's first inauguration, on the balcony of Federal Hall on Wall Street in New York. Thanks for the additional info. (And thanks for letting me steal your idea.) I didn’t realize Jefferson was included because of the Louisiana Purchase.

And our timing for today’s thread is good. Today is the 219th anniversary of Washington’s first inauguration, on the balcony of Federal Hall on Wall Street in New York.

]]> By: Dustin http://www.blackhillstravelblog.com/five-faces-of-rushmore-not-likely/#comment-634 Dustin Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:37:26 +0000 http://www.blackhillstravelblog.com/five-faces-of-rushmore-not-likely/#comment-634 Bravo! Here here! Excellent blog post! But, of course, that's because you stole my idea. The only thing I'd add is about why those presidents were chosen to represent the ideals of birth, growth, preservation and expansion. George Washington - Birth. Duh. This one's a bit of a no-brainer. Leader of the Continental Army and the country's first president in 1789. Because no one had ever been president before, he was responsible for shaping a lot of the mechanisms of the federal government we now take for granted. Thomas Jefferson - Growth. Everyone knows T.J. for the Declaration of Independence. People seem to forget he was actually president, though. After all, does anyone ever think of the Barbary Wars? Noooo... But at least the Louisiana Purchase was a little more famous. That little transaction with Napoleon more than doubled the size of the country, and Borglum thought that was pretty significant. Abraham Lincoln - Preservation. This is an easy one. To this day, most historians recognize the Civil War as the single greatest threat this nation has ever experienced - greater even than the World Wars. Lincoln managed to keep the country together, and Borglum figured that was worth a little recognition - like, say, a six-story-high sculpture of Lincoln's head on a mountain. Teddy Roosevelt - Expansion. Most people think about Rough Riders and "Bully!" when they see T.R.'s name. But when Borglum looked at Roosevelt, he saw the president that brought the U.S. into the 20th century. He saw a man that broke up the monopolies of the 1800s and brought them into a new, modern age. And, perhaps most significantly, he saw the president who built the Panama Canal, which helped to extend the commercial and political influence of the United States to new parts of the globe. This was Borglum's most controversial pick. A lot of folks didn't think Roosevelt had been dead long enough to go up on the mountain. Bravo! Here here! Excellent blog post!

But, of course, that’s because you stole my idea.

The only thing I’d add is about why those presidents were chosen to represent the ideals of birth, growth, preservation and expansion.

George Washington - Birth. Duh. This one’s a bit of a no-brainer. Leader of the Continental Army and the country’s first president in 1789. Because no one had ever been president before, he was responsible for shaping a lot of the mechanisms of the federal government we now take for granted.

Thomas Jefferson - Growth. Everyone knows T.J. for the Declaration of Independence. People seem to forget he was actually president, though. After all, does anyone ever think of the Barbary Wars? Noooo… But at least the Louisiana Purchase was a little more famous. That little transaction with Napoleon more than doubled the size of the country, and Borglum thought that was pretty significant.

Abraham Lincoln - Preservation. This is an easy one. To this day, most historians recognize the Civil War as the single greatest threat this nation has ever experienced - greater even than the World Wars. Lincoln managed to keep the country together, and Borglum figured that was worth a little recognition - like, say, a six-story-high sculpture of Lincoln’s head on a mountain.

Teddy Roosevelt - Expansion. Most people think about Rough Riders and “Bully!” when they see T.R.’s name. But when Borglum looked at Roosevelt, he saw the president that brought the U.S. into the 20th century. He saw a man that broke up the monopolies of the 1800s and brought them into a new, modern age. And, perhaps most significantly, he saw the president who built the Panama Canal, which helped to extend the commercial and political influence of the United States to new parts of the globe. This was Borglum’s most controversial pick. A lot of folks didn’t think Roosevelt had been dead long enough to go up on the mountain.

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