Gallery behind Lincoln’s head

A 21-meter-long gallery was carved behind Lincoln’s head at Mount Rushmore. This space was part of a larger, abandoned plan by sculptor Gutzon Borglum to create a Hall of Records.

Abandonment of the Hall of Records

Work on the Hall of Records stopped in 1939 after Borglum’s death and a lack of funding. The original plan had called for a much larger structure, 80 feet high and 100 feet long, with a 800-foot staircase leading to it.

1998 deposit in the gallery

In 1998, a titanium vault containing 16 enameled porcelain plaques was sealed inside the gallery. The plaques were not original documents but described the carving of Mount Rushmore, the selection of the four presidents, and the history of the United States.

Contents and design of the vault

The vault housed a teak box containing the plaques, which were placed in a hole drilled into the granite floor. A 544 kg granite slab was placed over the vault, engraved with a quote from Borglum about placing the words of leaders near the sky.

Origins of the Mount Rushmore project

The Mount Rushmore sculpture began in 1927 and originally intended to extend down to the presidents’ waists. However, due to time and funding constraints, only the heads were completed. The four presidents featured are Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt.

Historical context and timeline

According to historical records, the project faced challenges such as the hardness of the granite, the threat of war in Europe, and funding shortages. By 1941, the team had carved 70 feet into the mountain, but all work ceased after Borglum’s death in October of that year.

Legacy and future access

The Hall of Records remains inaccessible to the public due to security concerns, though its entrance can be seen in aerial photographs. Borglum envisioned the hall to endure for thousands of years, a time span far greater than the 28 years since the vault was sealed.