Assembling the Team and Starting the Carving Project
The carving project at Rushmore was launched to promote tourism in the region of the Black Hills in South Dakota. Historian Doane Robinson conceived the idea. It was debated for a long time and after several negotiations, involving President Calvin Coolidge and Congressional delegation; the project got the approval from Congress. The carving finally began on October 4, 1927.
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Gutzon Borglum was chosen to be the chief sculptor. Historian Doane coaxed Borglum to visit the black hills to make sure the project can be executed. Before this, Gutzon had been a part of the sculpting work for the Confederate Memorial Craving, a huge Bas-relief memorial to Confederate leaders on Stone Mountain in Georgia. Other notable artisans included Luigi del Bianca, a headstone carver and artisan in Port Chester, NY. He was appointed as the chief carver. Del Bianco, an immigrant from Italy, was also part of the team. He had an incredible skill of carving emotions and personality on to the portraits.