Mount Rushmore is fundamentally a massive act of geological vandalism carved into the sacred Black Hills of South Dakota, an area that was violently stolen from the local Lakota Sioux tribe.

A closer look

Mount Rushmore is fundamentally a massive act of geological vandalism carved into the sacred Black Hills of South Dakota, an area that was violently stolen from the local Lakota Sioux tribe. The ambitious sculptor who designed this patriotic monument was heavily involved with white supremacist organizations, adding a deeply uncomfortable layer of historical irony to this celebrated shrine of American democracy. Millions of families pile into their minivans every summer to gaze upon the oversized granite faces of four presidents, completely oblivious to the fact that they are admiring a monument built on broken treaties and staggering disrespect. The site perfectly encapsulates the traditional approach to historical preservation, which basically involves blowing up a majestic natural mountain with dynamite to carve enormous faces of politicians into the rubble. It is a brilliant example of how enough explosives and marketing can successfully rebrand an egregious land grab into a mandatory road trip