23. Controversy Over Location
Controversy over the land and mountain that the monument was built on started long before construction began, as the mountain held special meaning to the Lakota Sioux. Before 1885 the mountain was known to the people of the surrounding area as “The Six Grandfathers” but was renamed after Charles E. Rushmore decided he discovered it on an expedition. During the time of the project, the Lakota Sioux were essentially robbed of their spiritual land by the U.S. government as they asserted military control over the area to ensure the federally funded project would be finished.