Saving face on Mount Rushmore

A cleaning project has changed the complexion of Mount Rushmore.

From July 4, 2005, to early August, the German cleaning equipment manufacturer Kärcher, in cooperation with the U.S. National Park Service (NPS), cleaned decades of dirt, grime and lichens from the heads of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.

The sculpture, carved by Gutzon Borglum between 1927 and 1941, looks out over clear western air near Rapid City, S.D. The cleaning marked the first time in 65 years that the 60-foot-high stone faces have received a high-powered face washing.

Not that visitors will notice, though. The project was more a stabilization and preservation measure than a cosmetic improvement. Technicians removed algae, moss and other organic stains that could damage the underlying rock in the long term.

Cleaning was performed purely with water, without any chemical supplements. Five diesel-powered hot-water pressure washers sprayed water on the granite surfaces via rotary nozzles that combine the cleaning power of a pencil jet with the higher area coverage of a fan jet.

Water temperatures around the boiling point should delay any recurrence of growth on the rock sculptures.

The restorative cleaning work was carried out as part of a culture sponsoring project. The team consisted of Kärcher cleaning experts, professional roping specialists as well as NPS rangers.

Equipment transported to the top of Mount Rushmore included five Kärcher high-pressure cleaners as well as hoses, ropes and drinking water for the team.

The team used no scaffolding, and all equipment was cleaned up and out of view during non-working hours.

Kärcher has completed 80 cleaning projects on historical monuments around the world.

Visiting Mount Rushmore
The Mount Rushmore National Memorial offers interpretive programs, exhibits and a film at the Lincoln Borglum Museum. Rangers provide interpretive walks and talks, including the Evening Sculpture Lighting Ceremony.

For information about other programs and activities, stop by the visitor center, call the park at (605) 574-2523, or visit www.nps.gov/moru.

Getting there
Visitors traveling on Interstate 90 should exit at Rapid City and follow U.S. 16 southwest to Keystone and then Highway 244 to Mount Rushmore. From the south, follow U.S. 385 north to state route 244, which is the road leading to the memorial.

Mount Rushmore facilities are situated in a central area with pedestrian access from parking. Allow at least two hours for your visit.

Mount Rushmore
www.nps.gov/moru

Travel South Dakota
www.travelsd.com/parks/rushmore3