South Dakota Gov Wants Rushmore Statues On The Capital Dome

While other states are taking down statues, Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota wants to put more up.

Her plan is to adorn the South Dakota Capitol’s dome with the larger-than-life statues of the presidents at Mount Rushmore.

The idea is the figures in bronze of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt would go in the four alcoves outside on the dome.

By 'larger than life' she means 9 to 10 feet tall — “more fitting to the setting”, than the faces carved on Mount Rushmore. The cost of all of this would be about $130,000 apiece. She does not want to use taxpayer money. She is asking for donations.

This is not a done deal. This is government after all. A commission would have to approve the project.

There are those who want Mount Rushmore cleared of those faces. But a defiant South Dakota still, by state law, keeps a replica of Mount Rushmore on the Dakota license plate.

The original Mouth Rushmore was supposed to be full torsos. But the rocks that make up the cliff face would not allow for it. If you look at the image of Rushmore, above, you'll see how the rock changes on the way down. That is why there are only faces up on Rushmore. So will the bronze statues at the capital be full torso? That is not known yet.