Five little-known curiosities about Mount Rushmore

Mount Rushmore National Monument is a rock sculpture complex located in South Dakota, on the Black Hills mountain range, formed by huge granite blocks. One of the most visited attractions in all of North America, the monument shows the faces, carved in stone, of four of the most famous presidents of the United States, namely George Washington (1732-1799), Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) and Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865). Controversial and peculiar, it fascinates the world with the majesty of the work, and yet there may be many little-known curiosities about this famous place.

Gutzon Borglum and 400 workers sculpted the colossal carvings, which are 18 metres high. The original plan also included sculpting the busts, up to the waist, but this challenging project was abandoned almost immediately due to lack of funds. In addition, a large amount of dynamite was used to remove most of the excess granite, as the workers' chisels would never have been enough.

Since the sculptor, Gutzon Borglum, wanted Mount Rushmore to become a Shrine of Democracy, there was some debate over which presidents to include. Three were easy enough to decide (Washington, Lincoln and Jefferson). However, there was much debate over who should have the fourth face. Borglum wanted Teddy Roosevelt while others wanted Woodrow Wilson. In the end, Borglum chose Teddy Roosevelt.

The mountain is named after Charles E. Rushmore, a New York lawyer who visited the area in 1885. Rushmore is said to have asked for the name of the mountain and was ironically suggested 'Rushmore Mountain', which later became the official name.

The image of Thomas Jefferson was originally to be placed in the area to the right of Washington, but after work began, the rock proved to be unsuitable and they had to destroy what they had made with explosives and start all over again.

In a canyon to the rear of the carved faces is a rock-cut chamber, built in 1998, that contains a vault with sixteen porcelain-enamelled panels, which include the text of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, biographies of the four presidents and Borglum, and the history of the United States.