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1927, Carving Begins

In the summer of 1927, South Dakota Congressman William Williamson, a champion of the Mount Rushmore project, convinces President Coolidge to take a vacation in the Black Hills. President Coolidge agreed, since Washington, DC air was bad for his bronchitis and the White House was scheduled to undergo renovations. He arrived in the Black Hills in June and prolonged his three week stay into three months.

Gutzon Borglum, a very persistent and flamboyant personality who lived larger than life, hounded President Coolidge to preside over the dedication ceremony that summer when construction was to begin. Coolidge finally agreed, and on August 10, 1927 he gave the dedication speech for the monument the day that construction began.

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