WHEN in the course of human Events, it becomes necessary….
Carving The Monument
byVanderleunonAugust 3, 2020
Borglum also proposed that the four heads in the sculpture symbolize the first 150 years of the United States: Washington to represent the country’s founding; Jefferson, its expansion across the continent; Roosevelt, its development domestically and as a global power; and Lincoln, its preservation through the ordeal of civil war.
Between October 4, 1927, and October 31, 1941, Gutzon Borglum and 400 workers sculpted the colossal 60-foot-high (18 m) carvings of United States Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln…
Americans: people who have the best heads in their rocks.
ghostsniperAugust 3, 2020, 10:22 AM
I saw it in person. I heard the statues with bodies would be about 600′ tall.
I know they had their reasons for placement but I thought it would have been better to have a more southerly view, sort of wrap around the curve, rather than burying Roosevelt back in that cove.
ChrisAugust 3, 2020, 2:10 PM
The big stick was a dick,hence the cove.
Other than that,it’s scintillating.
Gordon ScottAugust 3, 2020, 7:06 PM
I visited in about 1987. We came back at night for the lighting ceremony. Boy was that dramatic.
A few years later I watched North by Northwest. Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint had coffee in the same cafeteria I did 28 years later. They probably changed it now.
HAugust 3, 2020, 7:29 PM
Gordon, we did a big loop out west on a fam-damily vacation a year after that movie came out and had coffee/cokes in the same cafeteria. I remember thinking, right there’s where Cary Grant got shot.
When Mrs. hits the big megalodon lottery, I’m gonna make her buy me that big-assed house that was at the end of North by Northwest, or build me a reasonable facsimile thereof. Now if I can only persuade her to buy the damn ticket.
Susan in SeattleAugust 3, 2020, 7:29 PM
We just returned from a road trip that included Mt. Rushmore; we spent about 4 hours there with other happy-to-be-there people. I hadn’t been there since the 70s. They have an evening ceremony where a Ranger talks about each President, they honor military service members, the flag is lowered and folded, then those gathered sing The Star Spangled Banner together, a capella. Pretty fantastic to hear about 1000 people all singing together.
ghostsniperAugust 4, 2020, 4:55 AM
“…about 1000 people…”
======
Jeez, there was a handful when I was there in 1980.
Can’t imagine 1000 on that deck.
Too many for me to put up with.
Prolly never go back.
Real World Address for Donations, Mash Notes and Hate Mail
Gerard Van der Leun
1692 MANGROVE AVE
APT 379
Chico, Ca 95926
Green Pants Interior by Klahn
Who Am I? by Carl Sandburg
My head knocks against the stars.
My feet are on the hilltops.
My finger-tips are in the valleys and shores of universal life.
Down in the sounding foam of primal things I reach my hands and play with pebbles of destiny.
I have been to hell and back many times.
I know all about heaven, for I have talked with God.
I dabble in the blood and guts of the terrible.
I know the passionate seizure of beauty
And the marvelous rebellion of man at all signs reading “Keep Off.”
My name is Truth and I am the most elusive captive in the universe.
Duty, Beauty, Liberty, Country, Honor, Family, Faith — Plus a few simple easy to follow rules for guys
Men saw the stars at the edge of the sea
They thought great thoughts about liberty
Poets wrote down words that did fit
Writers wrote books
Thinkers thought about it
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
Many’s the road I have walked upon
Many’s the hour between dusk and dawn
Many’s the time
Many’s the mile
I see it all now
Through the eyes of a child
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
And close your eyes
Leave it all for a while
Leave the world
And your worries behind
You will build on whatever is real
And wake up each day
To a new waking dream
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Change, change come over
Change come over
Talkin’ about a change
Change, change
Change come over, now
Change, change, change come over
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
Gerard Van der Leun
Comments on this entry are closed.
Americans: people who have the best heads in their rocks.
I saw it in person. I heard the statues with bodies would be about 600′ tall.
I know they had their reasons for placement but I thought it would have been better to have a more southerly view, sort of wrap around the curve, rather than burying Roosevelt back in that cove.
The big stick was a dick,hence the cove.
Other than that,it’s scintillating.
I visited in about 1987. We came back at night for the lighting ceremony. Boy was that dramatic.
A few years later I watched North by Northwest. Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint had coffee in the same cafeteria I did 28 years later. They probably changed it now.
Gordon, we did a big loop out west on a fam-damily vacation a year after that movie came out and had coffee/cokes in the same cafeteria. I remember thinking, right there’s where Cary Grant got shot.
When Mrs. hits the big megalodon lottery, I’m gonna make her buy me that big-assed house that was at the end of North by Northwest, or build me a reasonable facsimile thereof. Now if I can only persuade her to buy the damn ticket.
We just returned from a road trip that included Mt. Rushmore; we spent about 4 hours there with other happy-to-be-there people. I hadn’t been there since the 70s. They have an evening ceremony where a Ranger talks about each President, they honor military service members, the flag is lowered and folded, then those gathered sing The Star Spangled Banner together, a capella. Pretty fantastic to hear about 1000 people all singing together.
“…about 1000 people…”
======
Jeez, there was a handful when I was there in 1980.
Can’t imagine 1000 on that deck.
Too many for me to put up with.
Prolly never go back.