The Carving of Mount Rushmore [Paperback]

Rex Alan Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1994

This work tells the story of the spectacular artistic and engineering project of carving the American presidents' portraits on Mount Rushmore. It describes how it was conceived and carried out. The author was brought up in sight of Mount Rushmore and witnessed the work in progress.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Abbeville Press (January 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558596658
• ISBN-13: 978-1558596658
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #290,006 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Engrossing tale of how our Nationa Memorial came to be., February 3, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Carving of Mount Rushmore (Hardcover)

Smith writes an engrossing tale about how Doane Robinson decided it would be a good idea to have sculptures created in the Needles of the Black Hills to bring in tourists, and how eccentric carver Gutzon Borglum took his idea over. It is amazing that Mount Rushmore ever was carved, with everyone being most concerned about getting it done their way, and no one paying enough attention to whether or not there was enough money to get it done.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars LOVED THE BOOK!, January 16, 2010

By 

James Cloninger (NEWPORT BEACH, CA, US) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Carving of Mount Rushmore (Paperback)

I found this book fascinating! I blew through this book faster than many other books I have read. Well written, easy to read and really enjoyed the photos inside the book as Mount Rushmore was coming together. 2 thumbs up!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Comprehensive Overview of the Creating of Mount Rushmore, May 14, 2007

By 

Bliss Phillips - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Carving of Mount Rushmore (Paperback)

Mr. Smith's book gives the total picture of the dynamics that went into the creating of Mount Rushmore. Beyond just the unbelievable effort of the artist, Mr. Smith supplies us with the many other factors that make an effort such as this possible; support, funding, political, environmental, geography and most important, why the monument was created at this location. Then there are the lives of everyone associated with the project; from the artist to the lowest member of the many teams that are brought into the story to make the reader feel that they were there from the beginning to the completion. The author's inclusion of personal interviews with some of these people provides glimpses into rapidly fading history. The book was so compelling that I want to return to the Black Hills to see first hand all that I missed from lack of knowledge on by previous 3 visits. This is a must reading before visiting Mount Rushmore.