Sculpture Preservation Work Underway

Date: June 22, 2015
Contact: Maureen McGee-Ballinger, 605-574-3115

KEYSTONE, SD: Beginning Tuesday, June 23, the Sculpture Preservation Team at Mount Rushmore National Memorial will be working on the sculpture replacing monitors and fiber optic lines. Work will continue into the week potentially through Thursday, depending on weather conditions. Members of the Preservation Team will be visible on the faces and the mountain during this timeframe. Visitors can expect to see the team periodically while conducting their work.

The technically trained rope access team members use a dual rope system. Each technician is attached to a working line and a safety, backup line at all times while performing work directly on the surface of the sculpture. The Mount Rushmore Preservation team is composed of a wide variety of specialists from across park divisions as well as advisors to the project.

Preservation work is part of a larger long-term preservation plan for the sculpture. Utilizing new and developing technologies, this systematic approach to preservation builds upon past conservation work dating back to the time of artist Gutzon Borglum’s first attempt to seal and protect the sculpture. Utilizing computers, monitors, and laser scanned images, today’s Preservation Team ensures the public will continue to enjoy Borglum’s amazing work.

All facilities will continue to be fully operational to visitors throughout the preservation work. For more information about the park, please visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial’s official website at www.nps.gov/moru or call [phone].