The Lakota tribe's symbolism referred to the now famous granite rock formation as "Six Grandfathers," which symbolized deities personified in six directions: north, south, east, west, above (sky), and below (earth). The mountain never had an official name until after 1877. New York attorney Charles E. Rushmore visited the Black Hills to confirm the Harney Peak Tin Company's land claims. His South Dakota guide suggested it be named after Rushmore. The carving was the idea of Doane Robinson, a historian for the state of South Dakota. The concept and design evolved during the planning stages. Robinson originally wanted the sculpture to feature American West heroes, such as Lewis and Clark, their guide Sacagawea, Oglala Lakota chief Red Cloud, Buffalo Bill Cody, and Oglala Lakota chief Crazy Horse. Regardless of the subjects, controversy would have been inevitable as the land was never returned to the Sioux Nation. As so often happens throughout history, the "elite" in society institute their own ideals on how things should be run.
Sculptor Gutzon Borglum designed the sculpture, referred to as the Shrine of Democracy, and oversaw the project's execution from 1927 to 1941 with the help of his son, Lincoln Borglum. The impressive sculpture features the 60-foot-tall heads of four United States presidents chosen to represent the nation's birth, growth, development and preservation, respectively. The original design was to include some view of the torsos (see above model), but when funding ran out, the project ceased leaving only the faces. Mount Rushmore attracts over two million visitors annually.
