Photo negative of Mount Rushmore prior to carving
Black and white negative of Mount Rushmore prior to carving the faces of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln.
Collection
Mount Rushmore National Monument
Creation Date
1925
Your TR Source
Mount Rushmore National Monument
Mount Rushmore National Memorial is located in the Black Hills of South Dakota and was the creation of sculptor Gutzon Borglum. The faces of four presidents – George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln – were carved into the side of the mountain from 1927 to 1941 and represent Borglum’s creative vision of the founding, expansion, preservation and unification of the United States. The dedication of the Theodore Roosevelt portion of the memorial took place in 1939.
This collection has been digitized and cataloged on site at Mount Rushmore by digital library staff. It is one of our smallest collections, with fewer than 100 items. These items, mostly photographs, focus on the sculpting and dedication of the Theodore Roosevelt portion of the memorial. See below to view items from this collection in the digital library.
Digitization of items at the National Park sites was possible through National Park Service Centennial Challenge funding in partnership with Dickinson State University.
Photo negative of the Roosevelt head being carved
Black and white negative of the Roosevelt head being carved with unidentified workers, scaffolding, ladders, and aerial cages.
Collection
Mount Rushmore National Monument
Creation Date
Unknown
Creator(s)
Photo negative of the Roosevelt head
Black and white negative of the Roosevelt head being carved with scaffolding, Jefferson and Lincoln both visible.
Collection
Mount Rushmore National Monument
Creation Date
Unknown
Creator(s)
Glass transparency of the Roosevelt head
Black and white glass transparency of the Roosevelt head being carved with scaffolding around the eyes.
Collection
Mount Rushmore National Monument
Creation Date
1940
Creator(s)
National Park Service; Balcomb, Philip E. (Philip Eugene), 1916-1998
Glass transparency of the Roosevelt head
Black and white glass transparency of the Roosevelt head being carved with scaffolding around the lower face.
Collection
Mount Rushmore National Monument
Creation Date
1940
Creator(s)
National Park Service; Balcomb, Philip E. (Philip Eugene), 1916-1998
Photo negative of Roosevelt under construction
Black and white negative of the Roosevelt head under construction with scaffolding and tarp covering the face. Photograph taken in the winter of 1938-1939.
Collection
Mount Rushmore National Monument
Creation Date
1938-1939
Creator(s)
Photo of work area near Mount Rushmore
Black and white negative of Gutzon Borglum’s work area near Mount Rushmore at Grizzle Creek.
Collection
Mount Rushmore National Monument
Creation Date
Unknown
Creator(s)
Photo of Gutzon Borglum
Black and white photo of Gutzon Borglum in a boatswain’s chair going down the side of Mount Rushmore.
Collection
Mount Rushmore National Monument
Creation Date
Unknown
Creator(s)
Photo negative of Mount Rushmore from a distance
Black and white negative of Mount Rushmore from a distance with the head of Theodore Roosevelt under construction. Photo taken from Horsethief Road.
Collection
Mount Rushmore National Monument
Creation Date
1940
Creator(s)
Photo of Mount Rushmore lit at night
Black and white print of Mount Rushmore lit at night with the Roosevelt head under construction.
Collection
Mount Rushmore National Monument
Creation Date
1938
Creator(s)
Photo of 50th anniversary dedication of Roosevelt head
Color photo of the Roosevelt head with American flag covering face during the 50th anniversary dedication of the Roosevelt head.
Collection
Mount Rushmore National Monument
Creation Date
1989-07-02
Creator(s)
Photo of Mount Rushmore prior to carving
Photo looking from the southeast at Mount Rushmore prior to carving the faces of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln.
Collection
Mount Rushmore National Monument
Creation Date
1927
Creator(s)
Photo negative of the Roosevelt head
Black and white negative of the Roosevelt head with workers carving the nose area.
Collection
Mount Rushmore National Monument
Creation Date
Unknown
Creator(s)
Photo negative of the Roosevelt head near completion
Black and white negative of the Roosevelt head near completion with some equipment present.
Collection
Mount Rushmore National Monument
Creation Date
1939
Creator(s)
Photo negative of the Roosevelt head under construction
Black and white negative of the Roosevelt head covered by a tarp as it is being carved.
Collection
Mount Rushmore National Monument
Creation Date
Unknown
Creator(s)
Photo negative of the Roosevelt head under construction
Black and white negative of the Roosevelt head covered by scaffolding as the nose area is being carved.
Collection
Mount Rushmore National Monument
Creation Date
1940
Creator(s)
National Park Service; Balcomb, Philip E. (Philip Eugene), 1916-1998
Photo slides of the Roosevelt head 50th anniversary celebration
Four photos of the 50th anniversary dedication of the Roosevelt head held at Mount Rushmore. Speakers include Governor George S. Mickelson (grey suit), Senator Tom Daschle (brown suit), Congressman Tim Johnson (blue suit coat), Senator Larry Pressler (black suit/red tie), Author Arthur Miller (white suit), Ranger Lorraine Mintzmeyer (Rocky Mountain Region Director), and Ranger Dan Wenk (Superintendent).
Collection
Mount Rushmore National Monument
Creation Date
1989-07-02
Creator(s)
Photo negative of the Roosevelt head with scaffolding
Black and white negative of the Roosevelt head with scaffolding under the nose.
Collection
Mount Rushmore National Monument
Creation Date
Unknown
Creator(s)
Photo negative of work being completed on Mount Rushmore
Black and white negative of construction on the Roosevelt, Jefferson, and Lincoln heads.
Collection
Mount Rushmore National Monument
Creation Date
Unknown
Creator(s)
Photo negative of Mount Rushmore
Black and white negative of Mount Rushmore with construction scaffolding around the Roosevelt head.
Collection
Mount Rushmore National Monument
Creation Date
Unknown