Behind Abraham Lincoln's head on Mount Rushmore is a secret chamber called the Hall of Records.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial is one of the most iconic icons of American history and culture. United States. Located in the County of Pennington, South Dakota, the monument was authorized on March 3, 1925.
Its construction began in August 1927, under the leadership of the sculptor Gutzon Borglum, and was only officially completed on October 31, 1941, a few months after Borglum's death on March 6 of that year.
Despite the initial planning being grandiose, the work was completed in a simpler manner due to lack of resources.
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The monument displays the giant faces of four presidents who marked US history: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.
Washington, the first president, was instrumental in the creation of the Constitution; Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, symbolizes territorial expansion; Roosevelt, known for his progressive policies, stood out in environmental preservation; and Lincoln, responsible for the abolition of slavery, represents the fight for national unity.
Borglum originally planned for the sculptures to show the presidents in full body, but financial difficulties and his early death limited the project to faces.
Still, the grandeur and precision of the details make the Monte Rushmore one of the greatest achievements of 20th century sculptural art.
The “Sanctuary of Democracy”
Beyond the visual impact, Borglum had a larger vision for Mount Rushmore. He envisioned it as a “Sanctuary of Democracy“, a place that would preserve American values and history for future generations.
Part of this plan included the Hall of Records, a secret chamber designed to house key documents such as the Constitution and Declaration de Independence.
The idea was to create a gallery 24 meters high and 30 meters long, accessed by a granite staircase measuring over 240 meters.
Excavations at the Hall of Records began in July 1938, but just over a year later, Congress ordered that the focus remain solely on the sculpture of the presidents, halting construction in 1939.
Still, 21 feet were excavated, leaving an unfinished chamber behind Lincoln's face.
Today, the Hall of Records is not open to the public, but it still bears the marks left by workers in the 1930s.
Rare photos from the National Park Service reveal the interior of the chamber, a space that retains the almost mystical atmosphere of Borglum's original design.
Posthumous achievement
Decades after Borglum's death on August 9, 1998, part of his vision was realized. A storage room was installed at the entrance to the Hall of Records.
This room contains a titanium safe protected by a granite slab, inscribed with a phrase from the sculptor:
"Let us place there, carved high, as close to heaven as we can, the words of our leaders, their faces, to show posterity what manner of men they were."
Inside the vault are sixteen enameled porcelain panels that tell the story of Mount Rushmore, the significance of the presidents represented, and a brief chronology of the United States.
These panels were designed to stand the test of time, preserving the nation's memory for generations to come.
Mount Rushmore – An Incomplete but Timeless Monument
Although Mount Rushmore was not completed as Borglum dreamed, it has become an enduring symbol of American values.
The meticulous work of the sculptors, combined with Borglum’s grandiose vision, continues to draw millions of visitors annually. Even lesser-known aspects, such as the Hall of Records, contribute to the allure of this historic landmark.
Behind the monumental granite face, there is more than art and technique; there is a narrative of perseverance, ambition and the quest to leave a legacy that defies time.