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:	9781491402030
Publisher:	Capstone Press
Publication date:	07/01/2014
Series:	Monumental History
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	738,266
Product dimensions:	7.75(w) x 8.75(h) x 0.38(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 fifty books for young readers. Her book Ropes of Revolution won the 2008 Moonbeam Award for best graphic novel. She currently lives in Madison, Wisconsin, with her husband and cat.

Table of Contents

Borglum's vision — American Indians and Rushmore — The four presidents — Sculpting the mountain — Mount Rushmore today.

Editorial Reviews

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.

School Library Journal

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