Mount Rushmore, South Dakota
Mount Rushmore is probably one of the most famous landmarks in the US. It displays four of the most notable presidents in US history: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.
However, many people might not know that behind the chiseled sculpture of Abraham Lincoln is a hidden chamber, which is known as the Hall of Records.
The secret room is lined up with Lincoln’s forehead and contains text from some of America’s most significant manuscripts. The designer of the famous political memorial, Gutzon Borglum, initially wanted the room to serve as a vault for a selection of US records.
In fact, his vision was to nestle an 800 ft stairway that would lead to the grand hall, which would measure 80ft by 100ft and be positioned directly behind the presidents’ sculpted faces.
Inside the gallery, he intended to build busts of great Americans from throughout history and a list of US contributions to the industry, science, and the arts.
Tragically though, Borglum’s vision was suspended due to his death in 1941. However, in 1998, monument officials wanted to make Borglum’s dream a reality by preserving records from American history in the secret hall.
