Mount Rushmore: Myths, Legends, and Facts

by Jessica Gunderson

Overview

A stone shrine shrouded in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Mount Rushmore is a symbol of democracy and freedom. Infographics, fact boxes, sidebars, and primary historic photos tell the story of this famous monument and the men who built it.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781491402085
Publisher:	Capstone
Publication date:	07/01/2014
Series:	Monumental History
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	807,686
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.10(d)
Lexile:	850L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 10 Years

About the Author

Jessica Gunderson grew up in the small town of Washburn, North Dakota. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Dakota and an MFA in Creative Writing from Minnesota State University, Mankato. She has written more than one hundred books for young readers. Her book President Lincoln’s Killer and the America He Left Behind won a 2018 Eureka! Nonfiction Children’s Book Silver Award. She currently lives in Madison, Wisconsin.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Borglum's Vision 4

Chapter 2 American Indians and Rushmore 12

Chapter 3 The Four Presidents 16

Chapter 4 Sculpting the Mountain 18

Chapter 5 Mount Rushmore Today 24

Glossary 30

Read More 31

Critical Thinking Using the Common Core 31

Internet Sites 32

Index 32

Editorial Reviews

This book has a lot of interesting facts. The original idea for the carving didn’t include presidents, they were going to carve western heroes. Most of the carving was done with dynamite, not picks and drills. The design had to be changed many times because the rocks cracked, were too soft, or had other problems. I really liked the book because it gave facts about how the land was taken and how the monument was built.

San Francisco Book Review

11/01/2014
Gr 4–6—This fascinating series delves into the shadows of some of America's most iconic monuments to reveal the intrigue, conflict, and scandal that surrounded their construction. A host of design elements are sure to keep readers engaged. A handful of tantalizing questions such as "What do [the Lincoln Memorial's] columns mean" and "Was [Mount Rushmore] sculpted by a man who valued democracy, or did he have a secret agenda?" introduces each title. Occasional sidebars grab readers' attention with facts that have the aura of insider information—for instance, ways in which the finished Mount Rushmore sculptures differed from the original scale model. An expertly curated collection of photos, drawings, and ephemera round out each title with flair and substance. For instance, an early plan for the Lincoln Memorial depicts a ziggurat, a far cry from the columned temple so recognizable today. Concise but informative, this series is a valuable addition to most collections.

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