Mount Rushmore is one of the most recognizable structures in the United States, carved into South Dakota’s Black Hills. This quiz explores the history, native controversies, and massive effort behind the monument.
Expect questions about the primary sculptor Gutzon Borglum, the engineering methods used to carve the rock, and the original plans for the hidden Hall of Records.
Afterward, try our trivia on monumental sculptures, check out mountain landscapes, or discover helper guides on famous landmarks.
In which U.S. state is the Mount Rushmore National Memorial located?
South Dakota
South Dakota
Wyoming
Wyoming
North Dakota
North Dakota
Montana
Montana
Mount Rushmore is carved into the granite face of a mountain range known by what name?
The Sierra Nevada
The Sierra Nevada
The Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains
The Black Hills
The Black Hills
Which of these U.S. presidents is NOT depicted on Mount Rushmore?
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
George Washington
George Washington
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Who was the primary sculptor commissioned to oversee the carving of Mount Rushmore?
Augustus Saint-Gaudens
Augustus Saint-Gaudens
Korczak Ziolkowski
Korczak Ziolkowski
Gutzon Borglum
Gutzon Borglum
Lincoln Borglum
Lincoln Borglum
Thomas Jefferson was chosen for the monument primarily because his presidency was associated with which major historical expansion?
The Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase
The industrial development of the nation
The industrial development of the nation
The exploration of the West
The exploration of the West
The end of the Civil War
The end of the Civil War
According to sculptor Gutzon Borglum, Abraham Lincoln was selected to be on the memorial primarily to represent what achievement?
The expansion of the railroad system
The expansion of the railroad system
Preservation of the Union
Preservation of the Union
His role in the American Revolution
His role in the American Revolution
The abolition of slavery
The abolition of slavery
According to sculptor Gutzon Borglum, Theodore Roosevelt was included on the memorial to represent which national theme?
The birth of the nation
The birth of the nation
The development of the nation
The development of the nation
The preservation of the nation
The preservation of the nation
The expansion of the nation
The expansion of the nation
What was the primary method used by workers to remove the majority of the rock from the mountain?
Laser cutting technology
Laser cutting technology
Dynamite blasting and hand drilling
Dynamite blasting and hand drilling
Electric diamond saws
Electric diamond saws
Heavy-duty industrial hydraulic presses
Heavy-duty industrial hydraulic presses
Which Native American tribe was granted ownership of the Black Hills, the location of the monument, in the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie?
Cherokee
Cherokee
Lakota Sioux
Lakota Sioux
Apache
Apache
Navajo
Navajo
By what name do the Lakota people refer to the Black Hills, the location of the monument?
Teton
Teton
Hohokam
Hohokam
Paha Sapa
Paha Sapa
Denali
Denali
Who assumed control and finished the carving of the monument after the death of the primary sculptor in 1941?
William A. Smith
William A. Smith
Lincoln Borglum
Lincoln Borglum
Caleb C. Ruggles
Caleb C. Ruggles
Charles E. Rushmore
Charles E. Rushmore
What was the intended purpose of the ‘Hall of Records’ located behind the face of Abraham Lincoln?
A memorial to the Native American tribes of the region
A memorial to the Native American tribes of the region
A hidden chamber meant to store sculpture tools
A hidden chamber meant to store sculpture tools
A vault designed to store important American documents
A vault designed to store important American documents
A museum dedicated to the workers of the monument
A museum dedicated to the workers of the monument
Approximately how many years did the construction of the Mount Rushmore carvings take to complete?
14 years
14 years
16 years
16 years
10 years
10 years
12 years
12 years
What was the primary goal of historian Doane Robinson when he first proposed the creation of a monumental sculpture in the Black Hills?
To commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Constitution
To commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Constitution
To create a permanent record of the sculptor’s artistic vision
To create a permanent record of the sculptor’s artistic vision
To boost the local tourism economy
To boost the local tourism economy
To represent the expansion of the United States westward
To represent the expansion of the United States westward
Which document was originally intended to be housed in a large glass-fronted cabinet within the Hall of Records?
The Gettysburg Address
The Gettysburg Address
The Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation
The Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence
What massive sculpture was started in the Black Hills as a response to the Mount Rushmore carvings?
Wounded Knee Monument
Wounded Knee Monument
Little Bighorn Battlefield
Little Bighorn Battlefield
Crazy Horse Memorial
Crazy Horse Memorial
Bear Butte State Park
Bear Butte State Park
In what year was the work on the faces of the four presidents officially declared complete?
1941
1941
1942
1942
1939
1939
1940
1940
What type of rock makes up Mount Rushmore, providing a durable surface for the massive carvings?
Granite
Granite
Sandstone
Sandstone
Limestone
Limestone
Marble
Marble
Native American claims to the Black Hills are often based on which legal agreement?
The Dawes Act of 1887
The Dawes Act of 1887
The 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Indian Reorganization Act of 1934
The Indian Reorganization Act of 1934
The 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty
The 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty
What is the name of the technique where many holes are drilled close together to weaken the rock so it can be broken off easily?
Water-jet cutting
Water-jet cutting
Steam-powered chiseling
Steam-powered chiseling
Diamond-tipped sawing
Diamond-tipped sawing
Honeycomb drilling
Honeycomb drilling
What is a notable fact regarding the construction of Mount Rushmore involving the workers?
The project suffered from severe budget cuts
The project suffered from severe budget cuts
The extreme geological instability injured most of the crew
The extreme geological instability injured most of the crew
The onset of World War II forced all workers to enlist
The onset of World War II forced all workers to enlist
There were no fatalities during the carving work
There were no fatalities during the carving work
Why was the carving of Mount Rushmore stopped before the presidents could be depicted down to their waists as originally planned?
A massive storm destroyed the scaffolding and equipment
A massive storm destroyed the scaffolding and equipment
Public opposition forced an end to the project
Public opposition forced an end to the project
The mountain proved too brittle for further carving
The mountain proved too brittle for further carving
Congress ran out of funding and the project was stopped
Congress ran out of funding and the project was stopped
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