Carved into the granite wall of Mount Rushmore are the faces of 4 presidents: Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt. These presidents symbolize the United States ideals: Washington standing for independence; Jefferson for democracy; Lincoln for equality; and, Roosevelt for the role in world affairs.

Gutzon Borglum, a Danish sculptor, and a crew of over 360 people carved the monument from 1927 to 1941. The faces measure 60 feet from chin to top of head, and would be 465 feet tall if the whole bodies were built to this scale.