Author(s): Madeleine Briggs
Mentor(s): Mary Jane Woodger
Institution BYU
This paper looks at the influence of Gutzon Borglum in respect to his contributions and the history of the United States of America. Sculptor Gutzon Borglum was born to Danish immigrants and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Throughout his life, Gutzon Borglum created multiple works of art, primarily sculpture, which depict prominent figures who played leading roles in America’s history. Many of Borglum’s pieces stand today in the public eye as a reminder of the past, and of the legacy modern Americans inherit. His most famous piece, the Mount Rushmore National Monument, was one of his final projects before his death in 1941. Today, it stands as a modern Colossus, enshrining four US presidents in immortal stone and in the memory of the people of the Unites States. My research also acknowledges the complications that come with studying history, as well as the importance of recording all aspects of Borglum’s contribution. Borglum’s work is not without controversy, but by recording history in truth, rather than selectively ignoring events on the basis of discomfort, provides the full image of his legacy. Proving that a history erased is worse than a history forgotten. By creating such immense works of art, Borglum has ensured that a visual history of the United States will stand for generations to come, and preserves the legacy of the nation.