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Behind Abraham Lincoln’s Head At Mount Rushmore, There Is A Secret Chamber Called Hall Of Records.
The Mount Rushmore National Memorial is one of the most iconic symbols of the history and culture of the United States. Located in Pennington County, South Dakota, the monument was authorized on March 3, 1925.
Construction began in August 1927, under the leadership of sculptor Gutzon Borglum, and was officially completed on October 31, 1941, a few months after Borglum’s death on March 6 of that year.
Although the initial planning was grand, the project ended more simply due to lack of funding.
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The monument features the giant faces of four presidents who marked the history of the U.S.: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.
Washington, the first president, was fundamental 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 struggle for national unity.
Originally, Borglum planned for the sculptures to show the presidents in full body, but financial difficulties and his early death limited the project to their faces.
Still, the grandeur and precision of the details make Mount Rushmore one of the greatest achievements of sculptural art in the 20th century.
The “Sanctuary Of Democracy”
In addition to 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 hold essential documents, such as the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.
The idea was to create a gallery 24 meters high and 30 meters long, accessed by a granite staircase over 240 meters long.
Excavations for the Hall of Records began in July 1938, but just over a year later, Congress ordered that the focus remain solely on the presidents’ sculptures, halting work in 1939.
Even so, 21 meters 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 maintains 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 of the Hall of Records.
This room contains a titanium vault protected by a granite slab, inscribed with a phrase from the sculptor:
“Let us put there, sculpted high, as close to the sky as we can, the words of our leaders, their faces, to show posterity what kind of men they were.”
Inside the vault, there are sixteen panels of enameled porcelain narrating the story of Mount Rushmore, the significance of the represented presidents, and a brief timeline of the U.S.
These panels were designed to withstand the test of time, preserving the nation’s memory for generations yet to come.
Mount Rushmore – An Incomplete But Timeless Monument
Although Mount Rushmore was not completed as Borglum envisioned, it has become a lasting symbol of American values.
The meticulous work of the sculptors, combined with Borglum’s grand vision, continues to attract millions of visitors annually. Even the less-known aspects, such as the Hall of Records, contribute to the fascination surrounding this historic landmark.
Behind the monumental granite face, there is more than just art and technique; there is a narrative of perseverance, ambition, and the quest to leave a legacy that defies time.
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