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Modern Marvels Season 1 Episode 4

Mount Rushmore

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Episode Summary

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AIRED: 2/11/96

Towering over the Black Hills of South Dakota, Mount Rushmore was the vision of Gutzon Borglum, a combative and fiercely talented young sculptor. To elicit public support for his dream, Borglum whipped American patriotism into a frenzy, finally securing the financing he needed to embark on the creation of his awe-inspiring monument. Over the course of 15 years, 350 men poured their sweat into Borglum's vision, using drills and explosives to chisel Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt into the massive granite cliff. Here is the controversial history of this unorthodox masterpiece, including the remarkable design specifications, the tragedies and setbacks that marred its construction, and the awe it inspires to this day.moreless

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Harlan Saperstein

Narrator

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TRIVIA (4)
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- The U.S. government took the Black Hills from the Sioux Indians illigally in 1877. Though a settlement was awarded by the Supreme Court in 1980, the Sioux have refused the money, still hoping to regain their land.
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- If one of the Presidents were scaled to his head on Mt. Rushmore, he would be 465 feet tall.
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- Today, the National Environmental Policy Act provides strict guidelines for assessing the environmental impact of a project like Mt. Rushmore. One expert's opinion: after a five to ten year study, the application would be denied.
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- Gutzon Borglum's father was a Mormon, simultaneously married to two Danish sisters. Gutzon's mother left the marriage four years after her son's birth.
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QUOTES (1)
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- Narrator: The idea preposterous, the plan: carve a national monument out of the solid Black Hills of South Dakota. The motivation: part tourism, part patriotism, part egotism. The result: a stunning monument to four American visionaries by a man as energetic and contentious as the country he loved. Now, sculpting Mount Rushmore, here on Modern Marvels.
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NOTES (1)
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- James Popovich
  Archivist, National Park Service
  
  Howard Shaff
  Co-Author, "Six Wars at a Time"
  
  Dr. William O. Farber
  University of South Dakota
  
  Dan Wenk
  Superintendent, Mount Rushmore
  
  Orville Worman
  Mount Rushmore Worker
  
  Don Clifford
  Mount Rushmore Worker
  
  Glen Bradford
  Mount Rushmore Worker
  
  William A. Burkett
  Hearst Contest Winner
  
  Mike Pflaum
  Chief Ranger, Mount Rushmore
  
  Executive Producer: Bob Jaffe
  Writer: Andy Thomas
  Producer: Andy Thomas
  Coordinating Producer: Tim Busa
  Senior Producer: Jeff Scheftel
  Co-Writer: Jeff Scheftel
  Producer: Bruce Nash
  Creator: Bruce Nash
  Narrator: Harlan Saperstein
  Archival Footage Consultant: Ted Troll
  Camera Operator: Geoff Schaff
  Editor: Andy Thomas
  Online Editor: Brian Pete
  Audio Mixer: Paul Feenstra
  Music: Scott Page-Pagter
  Music: John Valentino
  Production Assistant: Victoria Waters
  Production Assistant: Nathan Wilson
  Production Assistant: Denise Agard
  Graphics: Ron Clark
  Graphics: Art F/X
  Post Production: Premore, INC
  Post Production: Midtown Video
  
  Special Thanks:
  The Library of Congress
  National Park Service
  United States Department of the Interior
  Rushmore-Borlum Historical & Cultural Center
  Charles Nauman
  Dr. and Laura Pankratz
  Todd Epp
  Peter Egart
  Gary Keller
  Michael Singh
  Eric Jerstad
  Rick Decroix
  
  Executive in Charge: Mel A. Bishop
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