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Gutzon Borglum — Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Gutzon Borglum

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

1941

This monumental granite carving depicts four U.S. presidents hewn directly into the mountainside of the Black Hills in South Dakota. Sculpted by Gutzon Borglum between 1927 and 1941, the work rises approximately 60 feet in height and stands as one of America's most recognizable public monuments. The four colossal stone faces gaze outward with spare, dignified expressions, carved with striking precision despite the challenges of working at such scale on living rock. Framed against the expansive sky and surrounded by natural granite formations, the memorial embodies early twentieth century ideals of national identity and monumental ambition, combining engineering prowess with sculptural vision to create an enduring symbol of American leadership and aspirations. Photo by Stephen Walker on Unsplash

Medium
Granite sculpture (mountain carving)

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Spotted works by Gutzon Borglum

About this work

Gutzon Borglum, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, 1941

This monumental granite carving depicts four U.S. presidents hewn directly into the mountainside of the Black Hills in South Dakota. Sculpted by Gutzon Borglum between 1927 and 1941, the work rises approximately 60 feet in height and stands as one of America's most recognizable public monuments. The four colossal stone faces gaze outward with spare, dignified expressions, carved with striking precision despite the challenges of working at such scale on living rock. Framed against the expansive sky and surrounded by natural granite formations, the memorial embodies early twentieth century ideals of national identity and monumental ambition, combining engineering prowess with sculptural vision to create an enduring symbol of American leadership and aspirations. Photo by Stephen Walker on Unsplash

Medium
Granite sculpture (mountain carving)
Year
1941
Seen at
Mount Rushmore National Memorial (NPS)

Related themes

Figurative Sculpture, Public Monument, Twentieth Century, Mountain Carving, Landscape Art, Architectural Sculpture, Patriotic Art, Public Art, Outdoor Installation, Memorial, National Monument, Historical Monument, Monumental Sculpture, South Dakota, American History, American Culture, Stone Sculpture, Iconic Landmark, Large Scale, Granite Carving

More works by Gutzon Borglum

Collected by

Cleveland Museum of Art