Gutzon Borglum

1867 - 1941

John Gutzon de la Mothe Borglum, or Gutzon Borglum, was an artist and sculptor who had attained recognition well before being approached for his titanic task of mountain sculpting.

Approached by Doane Robinson in 1924, Gutzon Borglum provided more than just the design and execution of the Mount Rushmore project. He also changed the original location from the Needles to Mount Rushmore, and he altered the scope to encompass nationalistic pride and to serve as a shrine to his own interpretation of American democracy. Borglum was larger-than-life, charismatic, bold, and enthusiastic. Without his passion as well as his artistic work, the Mount Rushmore Memorial would not exist today.