South Dakota

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Mt. Rushmore

     In 1923 South Dakota state historian, Doane Robinson, conceived the idea of carving a monument on one of the mountains of the Black Hills. Lewis and Clark, Red Cloud, John C. Fremont were among the possible subjects. In 1924 he persuaded John Gutzon de la Mothe Borglum, to consider the project. He proposed Washington, "the father of the nation," Jefferson, who expanded the nation westward, Lincoln, the preserver of the union, and Roosevelt , the builder of the Panama Canal. Work began in 1927 and was finished in 1941 after Borglum died.

SCN 1011

SCN C88

     In addition to Mt. Rushmore other works by Borglum, both sculptures and designs (the Confederate Memorial), have been pictured on stamps.

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