Symbolism of Mount Rushmore

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The View from Mount Rushmore

Amidst the Black Hills of South Dakota, the faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln watch over the nation. George Washington, often called the father of the nation, was a leader in the American Revolutionary War to win independence from Great Britain and later became the first president of the United States. Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence and added territory that doubled the size of the nation through the Louisiana Purchase. Theodore Roosevelt demonstrated strength, sought to improve the country through the Progressive movement, and constructed the Panama Canal (Nsp.gov). Abraham Lincoln sought to keep the country united during the Civil War and ensured freedom to African American slaves. The memory of these great leaders of the United States of America is forever carved into stone. Tourists who visit the monument each year are reminded of the ideals of freedom and democracy that these four presidents fought for and instilled in this country. Gerard Baker, the superintendent of Mount Rushmore spoke about the significance of the monument saying, “Mount Rushmore is a memorial that symbolizes America, and Americans should never lose sight of their cultural beginnings” (Nsp.gov). These men represent the freedom that this nation was founded on and yet, the image of this monument is often used to criticize the current situations of the country.

Mount Rushmore has become more than a static symbol of freedom; it has transcended the past and has been utilized to create new and deeper meaning in a myriad of issues. Michael McGee defined ideographs as “culturally-grounded, summarizing, and authoritative terms that enact their meaning by ...

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...oon/d8aab341-fbce-44cd-83e2-0ef20c01a75f.html>.

NPS.gov. 2007. National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. 29 Oct. 2007

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PBS.org. 2007. Public Broadcasting Station. 2 Dec. 2007

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Pismestrovic, Petar. “Dreamland.” Cartoon. PoliticalCartoons.com. 2007. Daryl Cagle's Professional Cartoonists Index. 29 Oct. 2007

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Dr. Seuss. “Liberators of America.” Cartoon. Introduction to Political Cartoons. 2007. 29

Oct. 2007 .

Williams, Mike. “Back of Mount Rushmore.” Cartoon. Cartoonstock.com. 2007. Cartoonstock.

29 Oct. 2007 .

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