Mount Rushmore Society

Mary Ellis Borglum Vhay poses with National Park Service rangers at the dedication of the Hall of Records in 1998.

Women of Mount Rushmore: Mary Ellis Borglum Vhay
by Robin Borglum (excerpt From Mount Rushmore At a Glance: The Borglums)

While many determined men were involved in the carving of Mount Rushmore, there were women who had a hand in continuing the legacy as well, like Mary Ellis Borglum Vhay.

Mary Ellis “Mel” Borglum Vhay was born on her father Gutzon Borglum’s birthday, March 25, 1916 in Atlanta, GA, during the construction of Stone Mountain.

She and her older brother Lincoln grew up in New England, Georgia, Texas and
South Dakota. Her schooling may have been sporadic, but her unique view of the world was marked with flexibility and curiosity. There was little she was not interested in, and the force of her personality attracted many admirers. She described the greatest gift from her parents was that they allowed her to be free to learn by trial and error and to appreciate the strength that comes through love.

Although she visited the Black Hills often as an adult, her intense focus on Mount Rushmore was renewed in 1986, with the hope that the completion of the Hall of Records could be finally accomplished.

Gutzon Borglum saw the Hall as the explanation for the carved heads—a description of the history of the United States and of the mountain carving. Soon she had a new purpose in life at the age of 70—to complete the Hall, have a voice in the future design of memorial facilities and reconnect with her Borglum heritage. Before long, she was making suggestions to architects on the buildings, commenting on the landscaping, roads, new exhibits and giving suggestions on how to clean up the “rubble” (talus slope) at the base of the mountain. She became a valuable asset.

Mel’s drive and determination led to the completion of her father’s dream on August 10, 1998. On this day, the National Park Service lowered a teakwood box into a titanium vault set within the Hall of Records’ chamber. Within the box were 16 porcelain enamel panels etched with the text of the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, biographies of each of the presidents depicted and essays detailing how and why the memorial was carved. She led 120 people up the mountain for the dedication at the age of 82. This is one of her most memorable legacies.

She died in her Reno home on September 11, 2002, a few weeks after making her last trip to the beloved Black Hills.

To read more on the Borglums, click here to purchase your copy of Mount Rushmore At a Glance: The Borglums.

The Mount Rushmore Society has been supporting Mount Rushmore National Memorial since 1930. As the official fundraising partner for the National Park Service, the Society provides funds to support park projects that are over and above its baseline operations, including sculpture preservation, seasonal rangers, the Junior Ranger program and Youth Exploration Area programs. We operate the Mount Rushmore Bookstores, Mount Rushmore Self-Guided Tours and Mount Rushmore Memories Airport Store.