If you’re driving through the Black Hills of South Dakota, you can’t really miss it. That massive chunk of granite sticking out like a sore thumb, carved with the mugs of some of the most famous guys in American history. Most people pull into the parking lot, take a quick selfie, and ask the same basic question: how many faces are on Mt Rushmore?
The short answer is four. Simple, right?
But honestly, the "four faces" answer is kinda just the tip of the iceberg. If you dig into the history of this place—and I mean really dig into the weird, messy, "we-ran-out-of-money" reality of it—you’ll find out that the number of faces was almost different, the placement was a disaster, and there’s even a secret room tucked behind one of those giant foreheads.
The Famous Four (And Why They’re There)
The faces you see today are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. They weren't just picked out of a hat. Gutzon Borglum, the lead sculptor, chose them to represent specific "chapters" of the American story.
Washington is the birth. Jefferson is the growth (Louisiana Purchase, anyone?). Lincoln is the preservation because he kept the country from splitting in half. And Roosevelt? He represents development and the Panama Canal.
Each face is about 60 feet tall. To put that in perspective, if George Washington had a body to match his head, he’d be over 450 feet tall. That’s a big dude.
The Jefferson Disaster and the Face That Was Blasted Off
Here’s a bit of trivia most people forget: Thomas Jefferson wasn't supposed to be where he is now.
Originally, Borglum started carving Jefferson to the right of Washington. They worked on it for about 18 months. But then, they realized the rock was basically garbage. It was full of cracks and quartz, and it wasn't going to hold.
So, what did they do? They dynamited Jefferson’s face right off the mountain.
Basically, they blew him up and moved him over to Washington’s left side. You can still see the spot where the original carving was supposed to be if you know where to look. It’s a reminder that even the most famous monuments in the world had some "oops" moments during construction.
The "Fifth Face" and Other Myths
You’ve probably heard people joke about adding a fifth face to Mount Rushmore. Whether it's Ronald Reagan, JFK, or even more modern political figures, the idea pops up every few years.
Is it actually possible? No. Not really.
The National Park Service is pretty firm on this: the rock surrounding the current faces is too unstable for more carving. If they tried to blast out a fifth head, they’d risk the whole thing crumbling. Plus, the sculptor’s original vision was specifically for these four.
Interestingly, there is a person often nicknamed the "fifth face." His name was Ben Black Elk. He was a Lakota man who spent over 20 years at the memorial, posing for photos with tourists and sharing the history of his people. He became the most photographed Native American in history, and for many, he’s just as much a part of the mountain’s story as the presidents.
The Secret Room Behind Lincoln
Most visitors have no idea that there’s a hidden chamber behind Abraham Lincoln’s head. It’s called the Hall of Records.
Borglum wanted a massive vault to hold America’s most important documents—like the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. He envisioned a grand staircase and a huge bronze eagle over the door.
Congress wasn't thrilled. They basically told him, "Finish the faces and stop playing with the back of the mountain."
He never finished it. For decades, it was just an empty, jagged tunnel. But in 1998, they finally placed a titanium vault inside the floor of that tunnel. It contains porcelain panels explaining why the mountain was carved. It’s not open to the public, mostly because it’s a security nightmare and getting up there is dangerous, but it’s cool to know it’s there.
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What It's Like to Visit in 2026
If you're planning a trip this year, things are pretty streamlined. The memorial is open year-round (except Christmas), and while it doesn't cost anything to enter, you’ve gotta pay for parking. It’s usually about $10 per vehicle.
- Best time to go: Early morning. Seriously. Get there at 5:00 AM or 6:00 AM. The sun hits the faces directly, and the crowds haven't arrived yet.
- The Sculptor's Studio: Definitely check this out. It’s a separate building where you can see the 1/12th scale models Borglum used. It’s wild to see how they translated a small plaster model into a giant granite face using nothing but dynamite and "honeycombing" techniques.
- The Evening Lighting Ceremony: If you’re staying late, they do a program in the amphitheater. It’s a bit old-school patriotic, but seeing the faces light up against the black night sky is actually pretty moving.
Actionable Insights for Your Trip
Don't just look at the mountain and leave. If you want the full experience, take the Presidential Trail. It’s a half-mile loop that gets you much closer to the base of the mountain. You’ll have to climb a bunch of stairs (about 422, but who’s counting?), but the perspective change is worth the leg burn.
Also, grab a scoop of the "Thomas Jefferson Ice Cream" at the cafe. Apparently, Jefferson is credited with bringing one of the first ice cream recipes to America, and they still use a version of it there. It’s super rich and actually pretty good.
Next Steps for You: 1. Check the weather forecast before you go; fog can completely hide the faces, and there’s nothing worse than driving all that way to see a grey cloud.
2. Download the NPS app for the self-guided audio tour—it fills in a lot of the gaps about the 400 workers who actually did the hard labor.
3. If you have extra time, drive about 30 minutes south to see the Crazy Horse Memorial. It’s still being carved and puts the scale of Mount Rushmore into a whole new context.