The discovery of a secret chamber at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota has recently turned fiction into reality.
Despite being one of the world's most famous landmarks, Mount Rushmore has kept this hidden gem a secret for many years.
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The giant stone sculpture that features the faces of US Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln has been hiding a mysterious chamber. This lesser-known part of the monument has remained under wraps, known to only a few.
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Iconic... Mount Rushmore is a US treasure
Credit: Getty Images
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Mount Rushmore, located in South Dakota, is more than just an iconic symbol featured in adventure movies.
The discovery of a hidden chamber behind Abraham Lincoln's head adds a layer of intrigue to the monument.
This secret room was intended to be a Hall of Records, a repository for the complete narrative of the United States' history.
Secret... this room is tucked away behind one of the giant heads
Credit: National Park Service
The record room was abandoned for decades after the sculptor's death
Credit: National Park Service
During the construction of Mount Rushmore from 1927 to 1941, the sculptor, Gutzon Borglum, had ambitious plans to include a larger image alongside the four presidential faces carved into the granite.
However, Borglum realized that his vision to depict a grand narrative of American history in stone was too complex, leading him to abandon the idea.
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Rather than give up, Borglum shifted his focus to creating a Hall of Records.
This hidden chamber was to be filled with America's most significant documents.
Unfortunately, Borglum passed away before he could see the completion of this room, leaving the project unfinished for decades.
The sculptor behind the monument died before his record room was complete
Credit: Getty Images
The secret room serves as a Hall of Records, containing documents from America's history
Credit: National Park Service
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In the late 1990s, efforts were renewed to complete Borglum's vision.
The chamber was eventually finished and housed panels detailing American history, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.
In a touching homage, a biography of Gutzon Borglum was also placed inside, and the entire collection was secured in a titanium vault.
The room is not easy to access, and few people even knew of its existence
Credit: National Park Service
Inscriptions were made on these plaques, which are buried in the secret chamber
Credit: Alamy
The door of the chamber features a quote from Borglum: "...let us place there, carved high, as close to heaven as we can, the words of our leaders, their faces, to show posterity what manner of men they were. Then breathe a prayer that these records will endure until the wind and rain alone shall wear them away."
It is hoped that, thousands of years into the future, a civilization might discover this vault and gain insights into American history.
However, those who wish to visit this secret chamber will find it inaccessible, as it is too difficult to reach on foot.