Walk up to the base of Mount Rushmore and look up. You’re staring at 60-foot faces of men who shaped a nation. It's massive. It’s imposing. But if you’re like most people who grew up watching National Treasure: Book of Secrets, you aren't just looking at George Washington’s nose. You’re looking for the secret entrance. You’re wondering about the Mount Rushmore eyes tunnels and whether there’s a labyrinth of gold and history tucked behind those granite pupils.
Let's clear the air immediately. There are no tunnels behind the eyes.
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I know, it’s a buzzkill. But the reality of what is up there—and the "Secret Vault" that actually exists—is arguably more interesting than a Hollywood script. Gutzon Borglum, the sculptor with a personality as volatile as the dynamite he used, had a vision that went way beyond just four faces. He wanted a shrine to the American story. He just didn't finish it.
The Hall of Records: Not an Eye Tunnel, but a Hidden Door
The myth of the Mount Rushmore eyes tunnels likely persists because people can see something from the air or through high-powered telephoto lenses. There is a dark rectangular opening. However, it isn't behind the eyes. It’s tucked behind the forehead of Abraham Lincoln.
Borglum started blasting a massive chamber in 1938. He called it the Hall of Records. He envisioned a grand hall, 80 by 100 feet, accessed by an 800-foot granite stairway. He wanted it to house the original Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Imagine walking into the mountain and seeing the literal bedrock of American democracy protected by millions of tons of stone.
It didn't happen.
The government, which was footing the bill, basically told Borglum to stop playing architect and finish the faces. They were worried about the looming threat of war in Europe and didn't want to fund a mountain-side filing cabinet. When Borglum died in 1941, the project stalled. His son, Lincoln Borglum, did what he could to wrap up the carving, but the Hall of Records remained a jagged, unfinished "L" shaped room.
What’s Actually Inside the Mountain Right Now?
For decades, that room sat empty. It was just a hole in the rock, off-limits to the public and mostly forgotten by everyone except conspiracy theorists and park rangers. Then, in 1998, things changed.
A repository was finally placed inside.
If you could hike up there—which you can't, legally, and the security is intense—you’d find a teakwood box inside a titanium vault. Inside that box are 16 enamel tablets. These tablets explain why these four presidents were chosen, a brief history of the United States, and a short biography of Borglum himself. It’s a time capsule. It’s meant for people thousands of years from now who might look at these crumbling faces and wonder who the heck they were.
Why the "Eye Tunnel" Legend Won't Die
Humans love a good secret. We see a shadow in the corner of a granite eyelid and our brains fill in the gaps.
The "eyes" themselves are actually masterpieces of 1930s engineering. To make them look realistic from the ground, Borglum left a 20-inch long "pupil" of stone inside the eye. He didn't carve it flat. He left a shaft of granite that creates a shadow. That shadow is what makes the eyes seem to "sparkle" or follow you as you move. From a distance, that shadow looks like a hole. Hence, the Mount Rushmore eyes tunnels rumor was born.
The Logistics of Carving a Mountain
You have to understand how difficult this was. They weren't using lasers. They were using "powdermen" who dangled from steel cables in "swing seats."
- Dynamite: 90% of the mountain was removed with explosives.
- Honeycombing: Drillers would create holes close together to weaken the rock so it could be finished by hand.
- Bumping: Using a pneumatic drill to smooth the surface down to the "skin."
It was brutal, loud, and incredibly dangerous work. These men were hanging hundreds of feet in the air, often in freezing South Dakota winds, ears ringing from blasts. The idea that they would have spent extra time carving intricate tunnels behind the eyes just for the fun of it is, frankly, hilarious if you talk to the descendants of the workers. They wanted to get the job done and get down to the cafeteria.
The Controversy Behind the Granite
We can't talk about the mountain without talking about the land. To the Lakota Sioux, this mountain was known as Six Grandfathers. It was sacred. The 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie had granted the Black Hills to the Sioux "in perpetuity."
That didn't last.
Gold was found. The government moved in. By the time Borglum started carving, the mountain was a symbol of conquest for some and a symbol of pride for others. This tension is part of the "hidden" history of the site. While people hunt for fictional Mount Rushmore eyes tunnels, the real story involves legal battles that reached the Supreme Court. In 1980, the court ruled that the land had been taken illegally, awarding the Sioux over $100 million. They refused the money. They want the land.
Can You Visit the Secret Room?
No.
I’ll say it again for the people in the back: No.
The Hall of Records is located behind the heads, up a very steep, dangerous cliff. There is no public access path. If you try to climb up there, you will be caught. The National Park Service uses sophisticated sensors and cameras to monitor the entire face of the mountain. People have tried. People have been arrested.
It’s honestly for the best. The granite is stable, but having thousands of tourists trampling through an unfinished construction site would be a nightmare for preservation. The best view you’re going to get of the area where the "tunnels" would be is from the Presidential Trail, and even then, you're just looking at the tops of the heads.
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The Real "Secret" is the Physics
The eyes are actually one of the most fragile parts of the monument. Granite is tough, but it has natural fissures. Every year, rangers climb the faces to "caulk" the cracks with a mixture of granite dust, white lead, and linseed oil (though they've updated the formula recently to more modern sealants).
If there were actual tunnels running through the "brains" or "eyes" of the presidents, the structural integrity of the monument would be a mess. Water would get in, freeze, expand, and Washington’s face would end up in the gift shop parking lot. The monument is solid for a reason.
What to Do Instead of Hunting for Tunnels
If you're heading to the Black Hills, don't waste your time trying to find a secret door behind Lincoln's ear. Instead, do these things to get the actual "insider" experience:
- Visit the Sculptor’s Studio: You can see the 1/12th scale models Borglum used. These models actually have lines on them that show where the Hall of Records was supposed to go.
- The Evening Lighting Ceremony: It’s a bit kitschy, but seeing the faces emerge from the darkness is genuinely moving, regardless of your politics.
- Drive Iron Mountain Road: This is the real pro tip. The road was engineered so that the tunnels (real road tunnels, not eye tunnels) perfectly frame Mount Rushmore as you drive through them. It’s the best photo op in the state.
- Check out Crazy Horse Memorial: If you want to see a mountain carving in progress—and see what Borglum’s site looked like in the 30s—this is only about 30 minutes away. It’s massive. It makes Rushmore look small.
Final Thoughts on the Mountain
The Mount Rushmore eyes tunnels represent our desire for the world to be more mysterious than it often is. We want there to be a map on the back of the Declaration of Independence. We want there to be a hidden city behind the granite faces.
But the truth is that Mount Rushmore is a massive, unfinished piece of art sitting on disputed land, carved by men who were dangling by threads. It’s a testament to ego, artistry, and national identity. You don't need secret tunnels to make that a compelling story. The real "secret" is just how much work it takes to keep a mountain from falling apart.
Actionable Next Steps:
If you're planning a trip, download the National Park Service app and look for the "Mount Rushmore" section. It has an audio tour that actually plays interviews with the original workers. Hearing their voices talk about the "Honeycombing" process is way better than any conspiracy theory video on YouTube. Also, book your Keystone lodging at least six months out; those small towns fill up fast once summer hits.