I absolutely loved this book! It was such a captivating read, and I had a fantastic time diving into its pages. I definitely recommend it to anyone looking for something enjoyable and easy to read!

This book is packed with information. I have had a couple family reunions in the Black Hills—one as a child in 1999, and one as an adult with a family of my own in 2024. I was struck by how different being at Mount Rushmore felt the second time. It felt so much more private when I was a kid! Last year, I was struck by the crowds, the maze of the parking lot, the gift-shoppy vibe of nearby Keystone. I thought it was just a matter of being older and seeing things through different eyes. Maybe not! A multi year renovation project was completed the year before my first visit—maybe it really has changed so much in the 25 years since! Now, we think of Rushmore as this huge patriotic symbol, but it wasn’t always. This book includes a lot of biographical information of Mount Rushmore’s creator, Gutzon Borgman, which I was fascinated by; but also the history of the region, the importance of the hills to the Lakota, and the popularization of the completed memorial and changing perspectives over the decades. I recommend it to anyone interested in the history of the Black Hills or American symbols. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

A Biography of a Mountain is the story of one of America's most iconic--and controversial--monuments. As a recent transplant to the glorious Western South Dakota, one of my first excursions was a trip to Rushmore to see the Presidents' Heads. Some say they are boring, stagnant, underwhelming; I find the monument breathtaking, and it never ceases to amaze me.

When I came across this "biography", I was immediately compelled to read it. Davis presents an engaging, informative, and sensitive history of the monument, its making, and its effect on the American psyche--for good or bad. The writing and facts are presented clearly, with anecdotes of Davis' own history with the mountain sprinkled in. Davis recounts the story of Mount Rushmore like a kindly professor having a one-on-one chat with a student over a cuppa joe.

I concede that this book is not for every reader, but for the armchair historian it fits just right. (It would also make a fantastic coffee table book in any South Dakotan waiting room.) Imagine how many of these they can sell at Rushmore this coming tourist season, especially it being the 100th anniversary of the monument's completion!

It's a niche subject, to be sure, but history buffs will pick up this detailed "biography" of Mt Rushmore.

A deeply researched history of Mount Rushmore. I’ve seen it many times, but this book gives so much history! I can’t wait to visit again with my new found knowledge.

A biography of a Mountain gives detailed information on the history of Mt. Rushmore through the words of Gerard Baker, the first Native American superintendent. Through him, we learn of the tragic history of the mountain, Little Big horn , and everything leading up to and sense. An enthralling, hard hitting look into one of the United State's most famous monuments and how not everything is as glorious as it seems.

Fascinating.

In the first chapter, Davis describes his trip to Mount Rushmore in 2000 as a younger man about to embark on adventures in Mongolia. I, myself, went on a cross country roadtrip a few years later in 2005 and ended up at Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial, staying in a motel in Keystone, and getting one of those hokey, sepia portraits done. Anyway...

Davis takes readers on a deep dive into the mountain's history, from sacred Lakota land and to its transformation during America’s westward expansion. He unpacks the mix of economic, political, and cultural forces that shaped its creation, making it clear that the monument’s story is more than just stone and sculpture.

Beyond the monument’s construction, Davis doesn’t shy away from the perspectives of Native American communities, particularly the Lakota, for whom the Black Hills remain deeply sacred. He takes care to explore the ongoing debates over land rights and the broader cultural significance of Mount Rushmore, offering a nuanced discussion that acknowledges both its place in American identity and the unresolved grievances of indigenous peoples.

In the end, Davis delivers a timely and thought-provoking look at one of America’s most famous landmarks. By weaving together the stories of artistry, politics, and indigenous resistance, he offers readers a richer, more complicated view of Mount Rushmore just in time for its 100th anniversary.

I found this book interesting and informative about how the monument came to be and history behind how it came to be
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher fir letting me review book