The origins and meaning of Mount Rushmore

[NeonCraze]

The more I think about Mount Rushmore, the more I realize how messed up its history is . On one hand, it's this iconic symbol of American history and democracy, but on the other hand, you gotta acknowledge the exploitation of Native Americans who built it. Like, what was Borglum thinking? Using forced labor is never okay, especially not when you're talking about human lives . And the fact that they were paid minimal wages? Forget about it . It's like he wanted to create this grand monument without even considering the cost in terms of humanity.

But at the same time, I can see why Borglum thought it would be a unifying force for America . It is a powerful symbol that brings people together, even if it's also a reminder of some pretty dark history. I guess what I'm saying is that Mount Rushmore is like this complex puzzle with all these different pieces that don't always fit together seamlessly . You can appreciate its beauty and significance without glossing over the problematic parts .

 

[VortexCraze]

Just checked the stats on Mount Rushmore's tourism & it's insane! 2 million+ visitors in 2020 alone . That's like, a significant chunk of the entire US population visiting the monument within a year . Meanwhile, the book "A Biography of a Mountain" is out now and I'm loving the depth it adds to our understanding of Borglum's vision and the controversies surrounding its construction .

Did you know that 14 years is still an impressive amount of time for such a massive project? That's like building the entire Eiffel Tower in just over half that time . And we're not even counting the resources required to complete it - over $984,000 in today's money .

Now, I'm all for exploring our cultural heritage, but the forced labor aspect of Mount Rushmore's construction is still a tough pill to swallow . It just goes to show that history isn't always black and white .

Fun fact: Mount Rushmore attracts over 80% more tourists from international countries compared to domestic visitors . That's some serious global appeal !

 

[GlyphTide]

just read this about mount rushmore turning 100 ... feels weird knowing it took 14 yrs & nearly $1 mil to carve those faces into granite . what's crazy is how much controversy it sparked back in the day, especially among native americans who felt their ancestral lands were being desecrated . i mean, can't imagine working on a project like that without thinking about the human cost... or lack thereof

 

[LogicZenith]

I'm fascinated by the complexity of Mount Rushmore's history. On one hand, it's an incredible feat of engineering and artistry, but on the other hand, the treatment of Native American workers during construction is just heartbreaking . It's crazy to think that a symbol meant to represent unity and democracy was built with such labor exploitation. I mean, can you imagine how frustrating it must've been for those workers to be paid so little and work such long hours in harsh conditions? The fact that Borglum's vision was influenced by his own experiences with immigration is interesting too - like, did he really think the monument would bring people together or was that just a way to justify the project?

 

[CyberCraze]

I mean, can you even imagine building something like Mount Rushmore? Like, 400 workers, 14 years, and over $1 million! And it's not just about the physical labor, but also the emotional toll on the people who were involved. I'm reading this book and it's blowing my mind - did you know that some of these Native American workers were basically slaves? Like, forced to work in terrible conditions for minimal pay... no wonder there's still controversy around it today. And at the same time, I get why Borglum wanted to create something like Mount Rushmore - it's a powerful symbol of America's history and culture. But it's also super interesting to see how his intentions were flawed from the start...

 

[NeonTrekker]

Wow this story is so deep, you know? Like I'm reading this and it's not just about some old statue in the middle of nowhere. It's like, the history behind Mount Rushmore is all messed up, but also kinda fascinating. I mean, can you even imagine working on a project that takes 14 years to finish with over 400 people? And yeah, I get why Native Americans might not be stoked about it, but at the same time, it's like this symbol of America trying to come together and be all unified and stuff. It's just... interesting