Mount Rushmore is one of America’s most recognizable monument, carved directly into the Black Hills. This massive sculpture features the faces of four US presidents and holds decades of complex history.
This quiz looks at the construction of the monument, from the initial carving methods to the struggles with rock quality. You will see questions about the main sculptors, the hidden Hall of Records, and controversial land claims.
When you finish, check out our trivia on famous landmarks, explore great sculptures, or browse our pages about mountains and landscapes.
In which U.S. state is the Mount Rushmore National Memorial located?
Montana
Montana
South Dakota
South Dakota
Wyoming
Wyoming
North Carolina
North Carolina
Which of these U.S. Presidents is depicted on Mount Rushmore?
James Madison
James Madison
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
George Washington
George Washington
Who was the primary sculptor hired to oversee the carving of Mount Rushmore?
Gutzon Borglum
Gutzon Borglum
Augustus Saint-Gaudens
Augustus Saint-Gaudens
Daniel Chester French
Daniel Chester French
Korczak Ziolkowski
Korczak Ziolkowski
What type of rock makes up Mount Rushmore?
Limestone
Limestone
Granite
Granite
Sandstone
Sandstone
Marble
Marble
What primary method was used to remove the vast majority of rock during the carving process?
Water jets
Water jets
Hand chisels only
Hand chisels only
Sandblasting
Sandblasting
Explosives
Explosives
Mount Rushmore is located within which mountain range, considered sacred by the Lakota Sioux?
The Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains
The Black Hills
The Black Hills
The Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains
Which president was chosen to represent the nation’s development and conservation efforts?
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
George Washington
George Washington
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
What is the status of the planned ‘Hall of Records’ located behind the sculpture?
It was destroyed by a fire.
It was destroyed by a fire.
It was converted into a gift shop.
It was converted into a gift shop.
It was never completed according to the original plans.
It was never completed according to the original plans.
It was flooded.
It was flooded.
During which decade did the majority of the construction on Mount Rushmore take place?
1930s
1930s
1940s
1940s
1950s
1950s
1920s
1920s
Which statement accurately describes the historical context regarding the site of Mount Rushmore?
The Lakota Sioux called the mountain ‘Six Grandfathers’.
The Lakota Sioux called the mountain ‘Six Grandfathers’.
The mountain was renamed by the U.S. government to honor a local merchant.
The mountain was renamed by the U.S. government to honor a local merchant.
The Lakota Sioux initiated the memorial project.
The Lakota Sioux initiated the memorial project.
Native Americans provided the labor for the carving.
Native Americans provided the labor for the carving.
What was the record of worker safety during the construction of Mount Rushmore?
There were zero fatalities among workers.
There were zero fatalities among workers.
Funding was revoked midway through the project.
Funding was revoked midway through the project.
A major rockfall destroyed one of the completed faces.
A major rockfall destroyed one of the completed faces.
Workers were killed during the project.
Workers were killed during the project.
Which president was originally intended to be carved to the right of George Washington but was moved to the left due to poor rock quality?
George Washington
George Washington
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Who took over as lead supervisor of the project following the death of the primary sculptor in 1941?
Charles E. Rushmore
Charles E. Rushmore
Doane Robinson
Doane Robinson
Gutzon Borglum
Gutzon Borglum
Lincoln Borglum
Lincoln Borglum
According to the original vision, what was the primary intended content for the Hall of Records?
Constitution documents, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence
Constitution documents, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence
Gold bars from the U.S. Treasury
Gold bars from the U.S. Treasury
A collection of 20th-century technology samples
A collection of 20th-century technology samples
Ancient records of early explorers
Ancient records of early explorers
Which nearby carving was started as a response to the Mount Rushmore monument on land claimed by the Oglala Lakota?
The Wounded Knee Monument
The Wounded Knee Monument
The Sitting Bull Memorial
The Sitting Bull Memorial
The Black Hills National Cemetery
The Black Hills National Cemetery
The Crazy Horse Memorial
The Crazy Horse Memorial
Approximately how many years did the carving process of Mount Rushmore last?
14 years
14 years
16 years
16 years
18 years
18 years
12 years
12 years
Which president is depicted as having served during the ‘preservation’ of the Union?
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
George Washington
George Washington
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
How did the workers typically access the high sections of the mountain for daily work?
Workers used specialized cranes to reach the tops of the heads.
Workers used specialized cranes to reach the tops of the heads.
The mountain was carved horizontally from a tunnel.
The mountain was carved horizontally from a tunnel.
Workers utilized sophisticated motorized scaffolds.
Workers utilized sophisticated motorized scaffolds.
Steel wires and pulleys were used by workers to descend the mountain.
Steel wires and pulleys were used by workers to descend the mountain.
What material was used to seal the entrance of the current Hall of Records structure?
Porcelain tiles
Porcelain tiles
Redwood panels
Redwood panels
Titanium plating
Titanium plating
A granite slab
A granite slab
From which city was the attorney after whom Mount Rushmore is named?
Chicago
Chicago
Philadelphia
Philadelphia
New York City
New York City
Boston
Boston
Approximately what percentage of Mount Rushmore’s final shape was achieved using dynamite?
85%
85%
90%
90%
80%
80%
95%
95%
What is a central point of contention regarding the land on which Mount Rushmore stands?
The site resulted from a direct land purchase from the Lakota in 1920.
The site resulted from a direct land purchase from the Lakota in 1920.
The federal government violated the Fort Laramie Treaty to obtain the site.
The federal government violated the Fort Laramie Treaty to obtain the site.
The site was abandoned for centuries before the carving began.
The site was abandoned for centuries before the carving began.
The tribal leaders requested the sculpture to attract tourism.
The tribal leaders requested the sculpture to attract tourism.
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