Join author Matthew Davis for a thought-provoking presentation on his new book, A Biography of a Mountain: The Making and Meaning of Mount Rushmore.
Davis will explore the fascinating history of how Mount Rushmore was created in the Black Hills, tracing the triumphs and setbacks of its construction and offering insights into the life of sculptor Gutzon Borglum. More than a history lesson, this program invites reflection and conversation. Davis will frame Mount Rushmore within the broader context of American memorials by asking important questions about what a memorial is, who it is for, what stories it tells, and where it is placed.
About Matthew:
Matthew Davis is the author of the forthcoming (in November 2025) A Biography of a Mountain: The Making and Meaning of Mount Rushmore. His previous books are When Things Get Dark: A Mongolian Winter’s Tale, and the children’s book The Magic Horse Fiddle. His essays and journalism have appeared in the New Yorker, the Atlantic, Slate, the Los Angeles Review of Books and Guernica, among other places. He’s been an Eric and Wendy Schmidt Fellow at New America, a Fellow at the Black Mountain Institute at UNLV, and a Fulbright Fellow to Syria and Jordan. He holds an MFA in nonfiction writing from the University of Iowa and an MA in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. He founded the Cheuse Center for International Writers at George Mason University in 2016 and was its founding director from 2016-2023.