Mount Rushmore Won't Be Altered Further

Described as “America’s Shrine of Democracy,” Mount Rushmore is a patriotic monument dedicated to the celebration of the United States’ first 150 years of existence. Completed in 1941, the massive sculpture in the Black Hills of South Dakota features four of the most noteworthy and celebrated U.S. presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. Originally intended as something of a tourist trap, the sculpture has become a significant symbol in American culture.

Citing the “many things” he achieved during his term as president, Donald Trump has suggested that he is a worthy candidate to be added to Mount Rushmore. The idea has been met with heavy support and criticism alike. Ongoing debate has also opened up the suggestion that other presidents be added instead, with some proposing Ronald Reagan or Barack Obama as candidates.

While the debate over whether or not President Trump should be added to Mount Rushmore could go on indefinitely, it’s more important to ask if he could. We at Misbar have discovered that the probability of any president being added to Mount Rushmore is slim.

The most blatant limitation of this possibility is physical. According to Lincoln Borglum, son and assistant of the original sculptor, there is no room left for new carvings. Borglum completed the project after his father, Gutzon Borglum, passed away a few months before it was finished.

Others, such as National Memorial chief of interpretation and education Maureen MvGee-Ballinger, maintain that any further additions to the sculpture would be a violation of the original artist's vision.

Still further, it is likely that any more to alter the existing monument would draw backlash from Native American groups. Since the land on which Mount Rushmore sits was originally intended for the Dakota Sioux before being revoked, further construction in the area would be viewed as adding insult to injury by some.