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National Treasure Book of Secrets Movie Poster

Quotes

Jerry Bruckheimer, producer of National Treasure: Book of Secrets

"South Dakota has great natural and man-made landmarks, a welcoming populace and cooperative authorities. Dakotans are glad to share their resources, and the fact that we had such freedom to film at Mount Rushmore and in the Black Hills is proof of that. And there's no doubt that South Dakota looks fantastic on film."

Jon Turteltaub, director of National Treasure: Book of Secrets

"I couldn't have fallen more in love with South Dakota, Rapid City and Mount Rushmore. It wasn't just that the people were so warm or that the country was so beautiful, it was that I learned so much about the culture and history of the area."

"Forget coming back to make movies, I'd come back to live here."

Hall of Records History

"Into this room the records of what our people aspired to and what they have accomplished should be collected and preserved, and on the walls of this room should be cut the literal records of the conception of our republic, its successful creation, the record of its westward movement to the Pacific, its presidents, how the memorial was built and, frankly. Why." -- Gutzon Borglum.

In the original concept for Mount Rushmore, there were plans for a carving next to the four presidents' faces that would have an inscription describing the purpose of the memorial. The carving would be in the shape of the Louisiana Purchase. The text would focus on nine events that shaped the future of the United States.

Unfortunately, time, money constraints and lack of useable granite, dashed the dreams of Gutzon Borglum and his grand vision of Rushmore. Although his inscription vision wasn't feasible…another idea was.

Thus, the idea for the Hall of Records at Mount Rushmore was born.

The original Hall of Records plans had the entrance located behind the carved faces with large doors that would proclaim, "America's Onward March" and "The Hall of Records."

Borglum thought this location would be the perfect place to house the original copies of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States. He also wanted to include busts of many famous Americans as well as include a comprehensive list of contributions that Americans made in science, art and industry.

Construction began on the Hall in 1938, and the work was very difficult. A year later, the entrance was almost complete and the workers had progressed nearly 70 feet into the mountain. Unfortunately, Borglum was pressured to finish work on the faces and never could return to the Hall of Records. He died in 1941 and his grand dream died with him.

The Borglum family tried over the years to renew interest in the Hall of Records and fulfill their father's dream. In 1998, the National Park System joined with the family to finally put the finishing touches on the incomplete Hall.

The room wasn't carved, but a titanium vault, which housed a teakwood box, was installed in the granite floor of the entrance way. In this box lived 16 porcelain enamel panels. The panels held the words of the Constitution, The Declaration of Independence, a history of how and why Mount Rushmore was carved, a history of the four presidents, a biography of Gutzon Borglum and history of the United States. The vault is sealed with a granite capstone.

The Hall of Records is closed to the public and remains a silent and powerful testament to the history of the United States.