History Stuff

Mount Rushmore: Turning Rock into a Monumental Icon

Mount Rushmore—an ambitious rock-carving project that transformed a barren cliff in South Dakota into an enduring American icon. Imagine deciding that what a mountain range really needs is four 60-foot-high heads staring out over the Black Hills. And these aren’t random faces; they’re Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln, chosen to represent America’s birth, growth, development, and preservation.

At the heart of this monumental project was sculptor Gutzon Borglum. A larger-than-life character, Borglum started the project in 1927 with little more than dynamite, a chisel, and a whole lot of national pride. Known for thinking big, Borglum aimed to create a monument so massive it would echo through the ages. The granite mountain he selected was tough as nails, but Borglum was undeterred. He relied on dynamite for 90% of the carving, with each blast carefully designed to reveal the presidential faces from the rugged cliff.

The Workforce

Here’s where it gets interesting: the team working on Mount Rushmore wasn’t composed of professional carvers. Instead, it included miners, drillers, and even out-of-work farmers—about 400 in total—who were brought into one of the most ambitious art projects in U.S. history. These men learned as they went, braving brutal winters and blinding summer sun. Every day was a test of skill, bravery, and luck, with zero casualties in the 14-year process—a remarkable feat.

While the team handled most of the heavy lifting, Borglum maintained close oversight on the finer details. He was known to tweak noses, adjust lips, and even alter the gaze of an eye to make the presidents appear more lifelike. Borglum’s meticulous adjustments ensured the monument looked just right, demonstrating his intense dedication to the project.

Funding Challenges and the Great Depression

Financing such a colossal project came with its challenges. Initially budgeted at $400,000, Mount Rushmore faced a significant setback due to the Great Depression. Borglum had to become a lobbyist, hustling for donations from private backers and even appealing directly to Congress for funding. Despite his efforts, only three-quarters of the project was completed by the time of his death in 1941.

Following Gutzon’s death, his son, Lincoln Borglum, stepped in to finish the project. Lincoln, not eager to continue his father’s grand vision of full busts for each president, completed the faces as they were. Though unfinished to the original design, the monument as we know it today remains a tribute to Borglum’s vision.

Legacy and Ongoing Debates

Today, Mount Rushmore stands as a testament to stubborn vision and sheer human grit. A colossal feat of art, engineering, and hubris, it transformed a raw mountain into a national shrine. Some call it patriotic; others call it audacious. Either way, it’s hard not to be awed by the sheer guts of carving a mountain for posterity. As a final twist, the mountain still sits on land considered sacred by the Lakota Sioux, sparking debates that echo today. So, there you have it – a story of ambition, dynamite, and a mountain that’s been gazing stoically over South Dakota ever since.

Cool Stuff

Microsoft Paint Art by @KHWAMPA

Movie Stuff

The Exorcist’s Eerie Run of Bad Luck

Let’s talk about The Exorcist—the 1973 horror classic that didn’t just send chills down viewers' spines but also cast an unsettling shadow over its own crew. From the start, the production seemed plagued by mysterious misfortunes, making even the hardiest skeptics wonder if something more sinister was at play.

First, there was the fire that broke out on set, destroying the MacNeil family’s iconic house, sparing only one room—the bedroom where the exorcism scenes were filmed. If that doesn’t give you goosebumps, consider that the fire caused weeks of delays, adding both time and tension to an already intense filming process.

Then there were the injuries. Actress Ellen Burstyn, who played Regan’s mother, was injured in a scene where she’s thrown to the floor by her “possessed” daughter. Burstyn’s scream in that moment? It was real, because she actually hurt her back. Actor Jack MacGowran, who played Burke Dennings, died shortly after his character’s on-screen death—one of several cast and crew members who passed away during or soon after filming.

Even after the cameras stopped rolling, The Exorcist kept its grip on audiences, and not just in theaters. Reports surfaced of strange occurrences among moviegoers—fainting, nausea, and even heart attacks during screenings. Many theaters began keeping ambulances on standby, just in case.

Was it just bad luck, or did The Exorcist actually summon something beyond the ordinary? Whatever the explanation, the stories surrounding its production add an extra layer of horror to a movie already famous for its spine-tingling scares.

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