Making Mount Rushmore

The story of an extraordinary American undertaking

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Guzman Borglum and his son, Lincoln, use the tramway.
(Image credit: (Photo courtesy of the U.S. National Park Service, photographer Charles D'Emery)Borglum had originally conceived of the figures with more detail — including clothing and limbs. But the mounta)

(Image credit: (Everett Collection Historical / Alamy Stock Photo)The workers were paid $8 an hour, which is more than $100 an hour by today's standards. But the work was brutal and dangerous. They had to e)

(Image credit: (AP Photo))

(Image credit: (Photo courtesy of the U.S. National Park Service, photographer Charles D'Emery))

(Image credit: (AP Photo))

(Image credit: (Photo courtesy of the National Park Service, photographer Lincoln Borglum))

(Photo courtesy of the U.S. National Park Service, photographer Charles D'Emery)

(ClassicStock / Alamy Stock Photo)

(Image credit: (Photo courtesy of the U.S. National Park Service, photographer Charles D'Emery))

(Image credit: (Photo courtesy of the U.S. National Park Service, photographer Charles D'Emery))

Jackie Friedman
Jackie Friedman

Jackie Friedman is the assistant photo editor at TheWeek.com. She is a graduate of the photojournalism program at Kent State University and now lives in New York.