View from the visitor’s gallery
Famous, not as big as you’d imagine them to be, but still quite large for something constructed before the onset of the Second World War. Originally, it was meant to include the presidents’ torsos as well as their faces, but the death of a sculptor and the beginning of an expensive world war left it with just the heads of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln (from left to right).
View from a cave along the President’s Trail
You’ll be happy to know that the informative visitor’s gallery is air conditioned during summer and heated during winter. There, you can see pictures and tools of the construction and learn about how the National Parks Services is using advanced technology to preserve this national monument. Electronic sensors are placed behind the heads of the presidents to monitor any movement and earthquakes, if repairs a necessary park rangers rappel down the sculpture’s foreheads for a more detailed inspection.
I highly recommend walking the President’s Trail for some closer views of the rock carving. About one third of the trail is accessible by wheelchair because it is paved with wooden planks for step-free access. I do have one complaint – those with an annual parks pass should be granted free access instead of being indiscriminately charged for overpriced parking. It’s simply not ethical for the parks service to charge for parking if they have a monopoly in the area.
