Jonah LeRoy "Doane" Robinson was an American historian who was the state historian of South Dakota.
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17 Facts About Doane Robinson
2.
Doane Robinson is known for conceiving of the idea for the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the Black Hills, which he believed would stimulate tourism to the area.
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3.
Doane Robinson had introduced a bill to the South Dakota State legislature asking for permission and funds to scout a location for a massive carvings project; the sculpture was to include the Sioux Nation chief as well as local famous South Dakotans.
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4.
Doane Robinson initially suggested a well known area of the Black Hills, Needles, named after large distinct eroded granite pillars.
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5.
Early on, Robinson originally wrote Lorado Taft about the project idea and potential Needles location.
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6.
Not giving up, in September 1924 Doane Robinson met with Gutzon Borglum, writing Borglum about the potential project.
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7.
Doane Robinson became the de facto project manager of the Rushmore Memorial from that point on.
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8.
Doane Robinson gained support from then US Senator, Peter Norbeck from South Dakota, and in 1929, during the last months of his presidency, President Calvin Coolidge approved the project after Congress authorized funding.
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9.
Doane Robinson soon abandoned that work to become a lawyer, reading law with an established firm to prepare for the bar.
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10.
Doane Robinson moved to South Dakota, where he set up his practice in Pierre, the state capital.
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11.
Doane Robinson was eventually appointed as South Dakota's state historian.
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12.
Doane Robinson hoped that such a sculpture would attract greater tourism to South Dakota.
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13.
Doane Robinson's concept was backed by US Senator Peter Norbeck from South Dakota.
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14.
Doane Robinson began efforts to raise funds for the project and to receive permission to carve the Needles.
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15.
Doane Robinson was not appointed as a member of the commission, which greatly disappointed him.
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16.
Doane Robinson lived to see the completion of the Mount Rushmore project in 1941, to the extent allowed by funding.
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17.
Doane Robinson died on November 27,1946, at age 90, in Pierre, South Dakota.
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