Keystone in Pennington County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Gutzon Borglum

(John Gutzon de la Mothe Borglum)

— Born March 25, 1867--Died March 6, 1941 —

Gutzon Borglum Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by P. A. Miller, May 17, 2009

1. Gutzon Borglum Marker

Inscription. His birthplace was Idaho. California first taught him art. Then France, who first gave him fame. England welcomed him. America called him home. His genius for the exquisite as for the colossal, gave permanence on canvas, in bronze, in marble, to moods of beauty or passion, to figures of legend and history. Nations, cities, colleges paid him tribute. As a patriot, he stripped corruption bare. As a statesman, he toiled for equality in the rights of man. At last he carved a mountain for a monument. He made the monument chant: "Remember! These giant souls set America free and kept her free. Hold fast your sacred heritage, Americans! Remember! Remember!"

Borglum said, "I want somewhere in America, a memory of the great things we accomplished as a nation, placed so high it won't pay to pull it down for lesser purposes." The first actual Rushmore carving was begun in 1927. The project was nearly completed in 1941 when Borglum died. Mount Rushmore was completed by his son Lincoln, with the final drilling done October 31, 1941.

Starting with a log cabin as his first residence her on Grizzly Creek, the Borglum home was accessible

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by foot to the top of Mt. Rushmore. This is also the place Gutzon built the Mt. Rushmore generator plant. This Borglum art center (The Rushmore-Borglum Story) is dedicated to Gutzon Borglum. He said, "Every statue should tell a story, it should portray a moment in our nation's history or a man's life that's worth remembering."

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Man-Made Features. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1883.

Location. 43° 53.469′ N, 103° 25.601′ W. Marker is in Keystone, South Dakota, in Pennington County. It is on Scenic State Highway 16A, on the left when traveling south. The pull-off from 16A is actually Roy Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 342 Winter Street, Keystone SD 57751, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West River,

in the Badlands,

and in Greater Rapid City.

It is also in the American Black Hills,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

on the prairies,

and on the Northern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

The Lincoln statue outside the Rushmore-Borglum Center. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by P. A. Miller, May 17, 2009

2. The Lincoln statue outside the Rushmore-Borglum Center.

There are many works by Borglum in the center, sculpture, carving, prints, etc., and great information about his development as an artist.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Seated Lincoln (within shouting distance of this marker); Dr. E. L. Trudeau (within shouting distance of this marker); William Jennings Bryan (within shouting distance of this marker); Flooded with Memories (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Purchasing The Slaves' Freedom (about 400 feet away); Carrie Ingalls Swanzey (about 700 feet away); 1972 Battle Creek Flood (about 700 feet away); The Black Hills Central Railroad (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Keystone.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 15, 2019. It was originally submitted on November 3, 2011, by P. A. Miller of Richmond, California. This page has been viewed 1,220 times since then and 81 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 3, 2011, by P. A. Miller of Richmond, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.