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