The presidential monuments carved into Mount Rushmore are some of the most enduring and iconic works in America. Anyone who has visited the site has stood in awe of its scale and intricate details.
But what you might not know is that the faces on the mountain were only one part of a grand plan by the monument’s designer. Back during the construction of the project, he wanted to create something larger.
Behind Abraham Lincoln’s head, you will find the entrance to a hallway. Unfortunately, that hallway reaches a dead-end after roughly 70 feet – the end of a project that was never finished.
During its original design, there was supposed to be a massive 800-step staircase built into the rock, leading visitors behind the head and to the entrance of a vast museum and hall of records.
There, visitors would be able to walk the beautiful halls and look at plaques that had been hung on the walls, telling them of the achievements made in American history.
The museum was also supposed to be a safe place to house important documents, such as the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Visitors could review these documents during their visit.
Unfortunately, the project was ongoing during World War II, and soon all money and resources were allocated toward the war effort. Construction on the museum was halted and never resumed.
