American Experience (1988)

Episode Overview

Title: Mount Rushmore Plot: This narrative follows the arduous 16-year journey (1925-1941) to create Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills of South Dakota, highlighting the life of its visionary sculptor, Gutzon Borglum. At 60 years old, Borglum embarked on this monumental project, which he would not see completed, as he passed away shortly after the final sculptures were unveiled. Throughout the endeavor, financial difficulties and the challenging quality of the granite posed significant obstacles. Nevertheless, Borglum's determination prevailed, as he ingeniously designed the monument to withstand 300,000 years of natural erosion.