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Correct Answer: george washington, abraham lincoln, theodore roosevelt and thomas jefferson
in 1927, gutzon borglum began work on a monumental sculpture to honor four of the most notable presidents of the united states: george washington, abraham lincoln, theodore roosevelt, and thomas jefferson. this iconic work, now known as mount rushmore, was conceived initially by south dakota state historian doane robinson. robinson's original idea was to create a monument to celebrate the heroes of the wild west, such as "buffalo" bill cody, to promote tourism and attract visitors to south dakota.
however, when robinson approached the sculptor gutzon borglum to carry out this project, borglum proposed a shift in focus from regional figures to figures of national significance. he believed that a monument featuring presidents who played crucial roles in the development and preservation of the united states would resonate more deeply with a broader audience and stand as a more enduring symbol.
borglum’s vision was persuasive, and the project evolved into the creation of mount rushmore, named after charles e. rushmore, a prominent new york lawyer. the massive sculpture was carved into the granite face of mount rushmore near keystone, south dakota. the selection of the four presidents was symbolic: george washington represents the birth of the united states, thomas jefferson the expansion, abraham lincoln the preservation, and theodore roosevelt the development of the nation.
work on the sculpture commenced in 1927 and continued until borglum's death in 1941. although he did not live to see the completion of the project, his son, lincoln borglum, continued the work for a few months after his father's passing. the project was declared complete in october 1941 due to lack of funding, although originally more detailed work had been planned.
today, mount rushmore is a national memorial, attracting millions of visitors each year and serving as a profound reminder of the nation’s history and the monumental achievements of these four presidents. borglum's adaptation of robinson's original idea resulted in a work that not only fulfilled the goal of creating a tourist destination but also crafted a significant symbol of american heritage.
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