Timeline

1923

  • December 28 - South Dakota State Historian Doane Robinson suggests a sculpture in the Black Hills.

1925

  • March 3 - Federal government authorizes a carving in the Harney National Forest.
  • March 5 - State of South Dakota authorizes a carving on Custer State Park land bordering the Harney National Forest.
  • October 1 - Dedication of Mount Rushmore as a national memorial with a flag ceremony.

1927

  • August 10 - First ceremonial drilling takes place at Mount Rushmore after President Coolidge hands Borglum a set of drill bits.
  • October 4 - First actual carving begins on Mount Rushmore.

1930

  • July 4 - Dedication of the Washington figure.

1936

  • August 30 - Dedication of the Jefferson figure, attended by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

1937

  • September 17 - Dedication of the Lincoln figure.

1939

  • July 2 - Dedication of the Roosevelt figure.

1941

  • March 6 - Gutzon Borglum dies in Chicago.
  • October 31 - Final drilling takes place under the direction of Lincoln Borglum.

Last updated: November 29, 2022

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

13000 Highway 244
Building 31, Suite 1

Keystone, SD 57751

Phone:

605 574-2523
Park information. Please leave a voicemail and the park will return your inquiry as soon as possible.

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