Ollie the Otter's Monument-al Experience at Mount Rushmore Near Keystone, South Dakota!

After failing at getting the cowgirl at Wall Drugs to give Ollie the time of day, he and his crew loaded up and headed to Mount Rushmore National Memorial near Keystone, South Dakota.

Sculpted by Gutzon Borglum and later by his son Lincoln Borglum, Mount Rushmore features 60-foot  sculptures of the heads of former United States presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. The sculpture is carved into the granite face of Mount Rushmore and covers 1,278.45 acres, and is 5,725 feet  above sea level.

Between October 4, 1927, and October 31, 1941, Gutzon Borglum and 400 workers sculpted the colossal 60 foot high carvings of U.S. presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln to represent the first 150 years of American history.  These presidents were selected by Borglum because of their role in preserving the Republic and expanding its territory.

Some interesting facts that I found when I was researching this memorial:

The image of Thomas Jefferson was originally intended to appear in the area at Washington's right, but after the work there was begun, the rock was found to be unsuitable, so the work on the Jefferson figure was dynamited, and a new figure was sculpted to Washington's left.

The monument provokes controversy, because some allege that underlying it is the theme of racial superiority legitimized by the idea of Manifest Destiny. The mountains were carved with Borglum's choice of four presidents active during the time of the acquisition of Native American land. Gutzon Borglum himself excites controversy, because he was an active member of the white supremacist organization, the Ku Klux Klan.

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Love This Picture!

Ollie With a Bust of Gutzon Borglum, the Original Sculptor of Mt. Rushmore.  This Bust Was Sculpted by Gutzon's Son, Lincoln Borglum.

Since Ollie is "Vertically Challenged" (NOT Short!), Jenny Was Nice Enough to Hold Him Up For a Better View of the Presidents!  Thank You, Jenny!!!

Jenny Holds Ollie Up For an Even Better View!!

Looks Like Ollie Found Himself a New Friend!!!

Ollie had a great time seeing Mount Rushmore as you can tell!!

Wonder What Ollie Gets to See Next?  Stay Tuned!! :)

And That's What Sarah Says!!!