Gutzon Borglum, the genius and drive behind the Mount Rushmore sculpture in the Black Hills of South Dakota, made particularly famous by Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest, starring Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint, wanted to include an entablature to be placed alongside the presidents. It was to have been inscribed with a brief history of the United States. Without it the monument would have about as much meaning to future generations as the heads on Easter Island have for us today. With all records lost, what did the carving mean? “You might as well drop a letter in the postal system without an address or signature,” Borglum wrote, “as to send that carved mountain in to the future without identification.”
Borglum wanted Calvin Coolidge to write the 500-word history. After the president submitted his draft, Borglum made so many editorial changes that Coolidge withdrew his support for the project. In time, interest in the project waned. In 1934, a year after Coolidge’s death, the project was revived when William Randolf Hearst decided to get behind the effort with his vast newspaper chain and an essay contest. The winner would have their words immortalized in stone on Mount Rushmore. President Franklin Roosevelt accepted Borglum’s invitation to head a judging committee that included Eleanor Roosevelt, Interior Secretary Harold Ickes, and other notable Americans. The contest was extremely popular. More than 100,000 entries were submitted. The Great Depression and the advent of World War II put a halt to the project.In an early photograph of the initial work of the project, you can see the date “1776” which was to have been the start of the 500-word inscription. It was later blasted away to make room for the head of Abraham Lincoln.
It reads as follows:
The EntablatureAlmighty God, from this pulpit of stone the American people render thanksgiving and praise for the new era of civilization brought forth upon this continent. Centuries of tyrannical oppression sent to these shores, God-fearing men to seek in freedom the guidance of the benevolent hand in the progress toward wisdom, goodness toward men, and piety toward God.
1776Consequently, on July 4, 1776, our forefathers promulgated a principle never before successfully asserted, that life, liberty, equality, and pursuit of happiness were the birthrights of all mankind. In this declaration of independence beat a heart for all humanity. It declared this country free from British rule and announced the inalienable sovereignty of the people. Freedom’s soldiers victoriously consecrated this land with their life’s blood to be free forever more.
1787Then, in 1787, for the first time a government was formed that derived its just powers from the consent of the governed. General Washington and representatives from the 13 states formed this sacred Constitution, which embodies our faith in God and in mankind by giving equal participation in government to all citizens, distributing that powers of governing, threefold securing freedom of speech and of the press, establishing the right to worship the Infinite according to conscience, and assuring this nation’s general welfare against an embattled world. This chart of national guidance has for more than 150 years weathered the ravages of time. Its supreme trial came under the pressure of civil war, 1861–65. The deadly doctrines of secession and slavery were then purged away in blood. The seal of the Union’s finality set by President Lincoln, was accomplished like all our triumphs of law and humanity, through the wisdom and the power of an honest, Christian heart. Far-sighted American statesmanship acquired by treaties, vast wilderness territories, where progressive, adventurous Americans spread civilization and Christianity.
1803In 1803, Louisiana was purchased from France. This acquisition extended from the Mississippi river, across the fertile prairie to the Rocky mountains, and paved the way for America’s pre-eminence among the nations.
1819In 1819, the picturesque Florida peninsula was ceded as payment of Spanish obligations due to Americans.
1845In 1845, Texas, having patterned American democracy during the 10 years of freedom from Mexican rule, accepted the invitation to join the sisterhood of states. In 1846, the Oregon country was peacefully apportioned by the 49th parallel as the compromised international boundary of the two English-speaking nations.
1848In 1848, California and territory likewise rich in natural resources was acquired as the consequence of an inevitable conflict with Mexico. In spirit of mutual concession, the United States granted additional indemnities for the adjustment of the international boundary, extending form the Rio Grande to the Gulf of California.
1850In 1850, Texas willingly ceded the disputed Rio Grande region, thus ending the dramatic acquisition of the west.
1867In 1867, Alaska was purchased from Russia.
1904In 1904, the Panama Canal Zone was acquired for our people to build a navigable highway enabling the world’s people to share the fruits of the earth and of human industry.
Now, these eras are welded into a nation possessing unity, liberty, power, integrity and faith in God, with responsible development of character and devoted to the performance of humanitarian duty. Holding no fear of the economic and political, chaotic clouds hovering over the earth, the consecrated Americans dedicate this nation before God, to exalt righteousness and to maintain mankind’s constituted liberties so long as the earth shall endure.