Borglum’s Horse Flies: The Early Opposition to Mount Rushmore

Name

Riley Merritt, Georgia Southern UniversityFollow

Publication Date

4-1-2024

Major

History (B.A.)

Document Type and Release Option

Thesis (open access)

Faculty Mentor

Dr. Alena Pirok

Abstract

This thesis explores the evolution of opposition to Mount Rushmore from 1923-1927—the period before carving began. The resistance was led by a group of preservationists who were concerned about the potential ecological and societal impacts of the project. While much of the existing scholarship has focused on the relationship between the local Indigenous community and the monument, I argue that the preservationists, who opposed the site for their own reasons, deserve similar attention. I aim to reframe the Mount Rushmore controversy within the broader context of the conservation movement, thereby contributing to wider environmental and historical debates. I also emphasize the need for a critical examination of the monument’s ecological impact, an aspect often overshadowed by its cultural significance. This perspective enriches our understanding of the monument’s history and its place within the conservation movement.

Thesis Summary

This thesis explores the evolution of opposition to Mount Rushmore from 1923-1927—the period before carving began. The resistance was led by a group of preservationists who were concerned about the potential ecological and societal impacts of the project. While much of the existing scholarship has focused on the relationship between the local Indigenous community and the monument, I argue that the preservationists, who opposed the site for their own reasons, deserve similar attention. I aim to reframe the Mount Rushmore controversy within the broader context of the conservation movement, thereby contributing to wider environmental and historical debates. I also emphasize the need for a critical examination of the monument’s ecological impact, an aspect often overshadowed by its cultural significance. This perspective enriches our understanding of the monument’s history and its place within the conservation movement.

Recommended Citation

Merritt, Riley, "Borglum’s Horse Flies: The Early Opposition to Mount Rushmore" (2024). Honors College Theses. 928.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/honors-theses/928