American Experience : Mount Rushmore

This Mount Rushmore documentary tells the incredible story behind what's now one of the most recognizable American landmarks. How and why was this enormous monument of four American presidents built into the the side of a mountain in South Dakota ? The answer is mainly Gutzon Borglum a larger than life sculptor with a shady past but a gift for persuasion. We see how Borglum came to the point in 1927 when he finally began construction on Mount Rushmore and the endless obstacles that threatened to kill the project thereafter. Money troubles and unskilled workers caused Borglum sleepless nights as did the need to change the original plans after trouble with the the head of Thomas Jefferson which was originally to be to the right of George Washington. They had spent 18 months on the Jefferson sculpture but hard rock meant they had to destroy it and start over to the left of Washington.