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Originally the sculpture was to be placed on smaller, granite pillars known as "Needles", located southwest of Mount Rushmore. However, the sculptor, Gutzon Borglum, decided upon the current location since the Needles were too thin.

The monument itself is four 60 foot sculptures of presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. However, the original plan called for full rock sculptures from the heads down to the top of the waists! This original rendition can still be seen at the site in a scale model.

The mountain is named after a New York City Attorney, Charles E. Rushmore, who asked the mountain's name during a business trip in 1885. A miner responded with a smarmy remark that in 1930 would be officially recognized as its name.

For a carving of this size, the low number of injuries reported during its construction is unusual. More so, the fact that nobody died during the 14 years of construction due to accidents is remarkable.