This timely history traces the complicated story of Mt. Rushmore as it approaches its 100th anniversary. Matthew Davis explores the Black Hills as sacred Native land, the political forces that created the monument, the outsized role of sculptor Gutzon Borglum, and the lasting impact of events like Wounded Knee and Indian Boarding Schools. Blending history and reportage, he shows how Mt. Rushmore became a national symbol--and why it remains a site of debate and controversy today

Origins -- Growth, loss, and hope (1877-1925) -- The making of Mount Rushmore (1925-1941) -- The meaning of Mount Rushmore : an exploration in four questions and one event