Theories
Unraveled

Along the 1.2 million acres of terrain in Black Hills National Forest, home of Mount Rushmore, there is speculation about several conspiracy theories (Black Hills National Forest). Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills are a gateway to suspicious activity including, aliens, doomsday bunkers and secret chambers. The first conspiracy was that UFO’s, or Unidentified Flying Objects, had been spotted circling the sky above the Black Hills National Forest. According to the National UFO Reporting Center, or NUFORC, numerous towns surrounding the Black Hills Forest such as Custer, Hills City, and Keystone, have several reports of odd-shaped flying objects. One report states “There was a circular disc in the sky that had a S in the center of it” (NUFORC Report’s). Although the NUFORC has never confirmed or denied any of these reports on their trueness, there seems to be a mass of reports that indicate that the Black Hills area is plagued with suspicious intergalactic activity (Mount Rushmore Pt.2).

The second conspiracy alludes to a doomsday room near or on Mount Rushmore premises. Rushmore Cave, just south of the monument, is the closest cavern that runs directly under Mount Rushmore (Mount Rushmore Pt.2). Speculation has evolved that a tunnel leading from the cave to Vivo’s, a doomsday base, could house government officials and politicians if a nuclear attack would commence. Vivo’s xPoint, a doomsday plot location in the Black Hills, are classified as “military-built, concrete and steel, all-risk bunkers” (Vivos xPoint). Although there is no proof that a connection between the cave and Vivo’s exists, there is also doubt in this theory as South Dakota is a far journey for a government official to travel amid nuclear warfare (Mount Rushmore Pt.2).

The final theory suggests that a secret chamber behind the eyes of Lincoln may hold government secrets such as the existence of aliens, or flat earth theory (Mount Rushmore Pt.2). Gutzon Borglum, the sculptor of Mount Rushmore, envisioned a tunnel to hold the story of our great nation within the rock of the monument (Klein). Unfortunately, funding ran out and Borglum died before the tunnel could be completed. While the 70-foot room is closed off to the public, speculations had arisen as to what could be in the room because it has twenty-four-hour guards. Today, the room holds a titanium vault that houses sixteen porcelain panels engraved with the text of important historical documents (Klein). This theory is hard to prove with a lack of evidence that the room holds more than the vault since no one has been able to get their eyes inside the room. Employees of the Mount Rushmore site have concluded that the chamber used to house the fireworks that were used in the Fourth of July celebration (Mount Rushmore Pt.2). Park officials have stated that any conspiracies revolving around the contents of the secret chambers are untrue and that they only hold the titanium vault (Mount Rushmore Pt.2). In conclusion, the theories of the existence of aliens in the Black Hills, stories of a doomsday room, and a secret chamber holding government secrets seem like a far-reach to try and credit for factuality. The lack of evidence supporting claims of intergalactic activity makes the conspiracy hard to believe. While the doomsday bunkers do exist, there are no proof in the fact that government officials use those specific ones when escaping a threat on U.S. soil. It is confirmed that there is a tunnel behind President Lincoln's eyes. However, the contents of the chambers had been confirmed by park employees, making the theory that the room holds more than the proven titanium vault and possibly fireworks, difficult to challenge.