Where Is Mount Rushmore?

Where is/are...?

by True Kelley, David Groff (Illustrator), John Hinderliter (Illustrator)

It was world-famous sculptor Gutzon Borglum's dream to carve sixty-foot-high likenesses of four presidents on a granite cliff in South Dakota. Does that sound like a wacky idea? Many at the time thought so. Borglum faced a lot of opposition and problems at every turn; the blasting and carving carried out through the years of the Great Depression when funding for anything was hard to come by. Yet Mount Rushmore now draws almost three million visitors to the Black Hills every year. This is an entertaining chronicle of one man's magnificent obsession, which even today sparks controversy.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Biography, Childrens, Geography, American, Family

112 pages, Library Binding

First published February 5, 2015

Reviews

[Sabrina Bain]

Very interesting

[Stacey]

I really liked this one. I learned a lot of information that I never knew. Makes me want to really go out to visit!

[David]

One of our most well known and loved National Memorials in our National Park system, Mount Rushmore currently draws about three million visitors a year; we were part of that number this year while attending my US Air Force reunion nearby. This was our second visit and it is still awe inspiring. Author True Kelley has written about the history of how it was created in her book Where Is Mount Rushmore. She has compiled interesting facts and details that you will not likely discover even with a visit like: 1) How were the presidents to be represented in the monument chosen and by whom? 2) Was Mount Rushmore the original location chosen? 3) How was the the creation of the monument funded? 4) Was there opposition to creating these sculptures? and much more! Much of the work to design and build the Mount Rushmore National Memorial was done during the Great Depression so funding was at times hard to come by and construction started and stopped several times. But the world-famous sculptor, Gutzon Gorglum, persevered through everything to see his dream come true. Highly recommended for everyone, followed by a trip to South Dakota.

[Sue]

This book must have been well-written because I had never given any thought to this thing, and now I wanna just zip on over there and see it!

[Erin Becker]

Barf fodder. Consistently refers to the Lakota Sioux in the past tense. Valorizes the sculptor (Borglum) who honestly sounds like an all around dickhead. Apparently he got fired once and smashed his prototypes with a hammer to prevent his employer from using his work?!? Oh and he was constantly firing his workers, with the exception of his son, who was employed throughout the fourteen year Rushmore project. Reading this book made me feel gross.

[Kassie R.]

I didn’t find this book very interesting. It was mostly about how it took way too long for mount rushmore to be built.
A few interesting facts, but none I will remember. I don’t think my kids cared for it much either.

[Mousie]

Thought-provoking history

Fascinating behind-the-scenes account of the history and controversy surrounding this monument, with great illustrations. While I've never been able to see Mt. Rushmore in person, knowing about its background makes me want to visit it someday.

[Liz]

This book was amazing!! I was hooked the entire book and loved getting learn more about Mount Rushmore. I felt like the book was super fitting for me because I read the book while I was in South Dakota.

[Charlotte]

I read this book the day before we went to Mount Rushmore and I liked having some information about it to share.

[Erin Pierce]

Good informative read. A precursor to visiting Mt. Rushmore with our kids!!

[Diego Palomino]

Great book describing the process it took to develop the project and carve the mountain. The story of the major players is just as interesting. Another book read with my 10 year old daughter.

[Joanna C]

The book was fun because it is interesting how it was built. It took 14 years and they had to overcome many obstacles. It was a miracle it was built.

[Chris Chen]

Riveting book I read while waiting in the doctor's office today

[Emma]

The monument is absolutely beautiful. I'm only sad because it destroyed the Sioux Black Hills.

[Amy Warren]

Read to my son for school. As usual with this series, I learned a lot about Mount Rushmore I never knew before.

[Yvonne]

Very educational and informative book that didn't shy away from hard subjects.

[CL]

Curved in the Black Hills in South Dakota. A Crazy Horse memorial nearby has been under construction since 1948

[Tisha]

Fascinating, yet succinct history of Mount Rushmore and its sculptor.

[Kathryn Cooper]

Homeschooling Book Fun
I read this with my 4 boys (14, 12, 9, and 7 years old) to get ready for our family trip this fall.

[Madison Schneider]

Good book on Mount Rushmore. Talks about the obstacles the builders/carvers went through as well as some history facts.

[Esther May]

This was interesting to read the back story to Mount Rushmore. I think it is so controversial. Amazing that it was built, but should it have been built in the first place?

[Bonnie🥗]

I was amazed at the logistics and timeline involved in creating the sculpture. Very well written.

[Alex]

Very interesting!

[McKenna]

pretty interesting read; feel bad for those whose land was stolen from them

[Tracy Reed]

This was a read-aloud in our homeschool before doing a Rushmore-inspired field trip. I thought it may skip over the Sioux background but it did touch on it in a reasonable way.

[Kristi Clemow]

Very interesting - some info I knew but this story dramatizes it. Definitely do want to see this area one day.

[Kaitlin]

Worth a listen if you are heading to Mount Rushmore. I learned things in the book that I didn't learn at the monument.

[Sage]

ششمین کتابی که تو دوران جنگ خوندم.

A symbol for American democracy or rapine?
That is the question.

[Michelle]

Informative. Does have millions and billions of years in the first chapter. But still worthwhile read if you have traveled to or care about the history of Mount Rushmore.

[Chelsey]

I really enjoyed this book about one of my favorite places. I had no idea how stubborn and ridiculous the sculptor was. I love reading these to my kids because I learn a lot from them, too!