Let’s talk about Mount Rushmore. You know, that colossal mountain carved with the faces of four of our greatest presidents—Washington, Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt, and Lincoln. It’s an iconic American landmark, a shrine to liberty and leadership, a bold statement in stone. But what if I told you that it was also—brace yourself—a tourist attraction? Yes, friends, Mount Rushmore, that grand symbol of freedom and ingenuity, was designed in part to do what Disney World does: bring in the crowds and boost the local economy. And frankly, that’s not just fine—it’s genius.
Let’s rewind to the 1920s. South Dakota wasn’t exactly on anyone’s bucket list. It’s a beautiful state, don’t get me wrong, but back then, it was mostly known for open plains, badlands, and a whole lot of nothing that tourists were lining up to see. Enter Doane Robinson, a historian with big dreams and an even bigger understanding of what makes America tick. He wanted to put South Dakota on the map and figured that nothing screams “tourism dollars” like a massive sculpture carved into a mountain. But not just any sculpture—a monument that would represent the greatness of America itself. Bold, unapologetic, and, let’s be honest, kind of flashy. Sound familiar?
Robinson enlisted the help of sculptor Gutzon Borglum, a man as ambitious as the project itself. Borglum wasn’t just an artist; he was a visionary who understood how to make a statement. His original pitch was to carve heroes of the American West—like Buffalo Bill and Lewis and Clark—into the granite. But that wasn’t grand enough. Borglum knew that to attract the masses, you needed something bigger, something timeless. And what’s more timeless than the faces of America’s founding and guiding fathers staring down at you from 60 feet up?
Now, some people today might scoff at the idea of building a monument for tourism. They might clutch their pearls and decry the “commercialization” of history, as if selling postcards of Lincoln’s giant stone nose is somehow sacrilegious. But let’s be real: tourism is as American as apple pie and baseball. It’s capitalism in action, people. And what’s more Republican than using ingenuity and free enterprise to celebrate American greatness while turning a profit? It’s a win-win.
Of course, the left has tried to ruin Mount Rushmore, just as they try to ruin everything. They’ve called it an environmental blight, a colonialist symbol, and even a crime against the land’s sacred history. Yes, there’s a long and complex story about the Black Hills and the Native American tribes who once called it home, and that history should absolutely be respected. But the idea that Mount Rushmore is a symbol of oppression is absurd. It’s a symbol of America’s ability to dream big and make those dreams a reality. If you don’t believe me, just take a look at the countless families who stand in awe at its base every year, marveling at what we as a nation can achieve.
And let’s not forget the sheer audacity of the project itself. Think about what it took to carve those faces into solid granite in the middle of nowhere during the Great Depression. It’s a testament to the American spirit: innovative, determined, and just a little bit stubborn. When life handed us a crisis, we didn’t roll over or wait for a handout. We made a national treasure out of a rock.
Today, Mount Rushmore draws over two million visitors annually. That’s two million people flocking to a remote corner of South Dakota to gaze up at the likenesses of men who defined the American experiment. And every single one of them leaves reminded of what this country stands for: liberty, innovation, and the audacity to think big. Say what you will about the commercialization of history—Mount Rushmore works. It inspires, it educates, and yes, it sells a lot of T-shirts. But isn’t that the American way?
So the next time someone tells you Mount Rushmore is just a glorified tourist trap, remind them that it’s more than that. It’s a monument to American greatness that also happens to boost the economy. And let’s face it: if you can carve four presidents into a mountain and make it pay for itself, you’re doing something right.
