1

A tough decision

Image: Spencer James Lucas

While the first three figures —Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln— were almost unanimously agreed upon, there was some debate over who should be the fourth face on Mount Rushmore. Gutzon Borglum, the sculptor, advocated for Theodore Roosevelt, but others believed Woodrow Wilson should be included. In the end, Borglum stuck with his original choice, and that's why today we see Teddy Roosevelt up there on America's Shrine of Democracy.

2

The original plan

Image: Jon Sailer

While it's hard to picture the Black Hills without the iconic faces of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln, the original idea for Mount Rushmore was actually quite different. At first, Sculptor Gutzon Borglum envisioned a more complex job (yes, even more complicated than it already is!) In his original plan, he imagined not just the presidents' heads but their upper bodies as well! There was even talk of including other key figures from American history, like explorers Lewis and Clark.

3

14 long years

Image: piotr sawejko

We can assume that carving the giant heads of 4 presidents into the granite was no easy task. But do you know how long it took to complete the monument we see today? 14 years! That's right; 14 years of hard work, 400 men, and a whole lot of dynamite went into bringing this colossal project to life.

4

The first

Image: Spencer James Lucas

As the first President of the United States and widely known as the "Father of His Country," George Washington was a must for this incredible monument. In fact, his face was the first to be completed and was officially dedicated in a grand ceremony. In addition, as part of the powerful symbolism behind the work, Washington's sculpture is also the most prominent.

5

Starting over

Image: Raimund Schlager

One of the many unexpected construction challenges involved the placement of Thomas Jefferson's sculpture.

The original plan was to place Jefferson's face to the left of Washington. However, when the dynamiting process began, they found quartz beneath the surface, which made it impossible to continue carving in that spot. After 18 months of work, they "erased" (yes, again, with dynamite) what they had of Jefferson and started over to the right of Washington, where it is today.

6

The secret door

Image: Tommy Bond

Did you know there's a secret room hidden behind the 60-foot-tall heads on Mount Rushmore? The sculptor had big plans for the monument, including a Hall of Records carved into the mountain to store important national documents like the Constitution. And he started to build it! However, when Congress found out that part of the budget was set aside for the Hall of Records, they asked Borglum to focus solely on carving the heads.

7

The last one

Image: caleb weiner

After Washington's, the other faces followed: Jefferson's was dedicated second, and Lincoln's was officially unveiled in 1937. So, which one came last? That's right! The last to be completed was Theodore Roosevelt's, with his iconic mustache included! Of course, members of the Roosevelt family attended the big ceremony.

8

The legacy

Image: Ashim D’Silva

Building Mount Rushmore took many years. Unfortunately, Gutzon Borglum, the mind behind the project, didn't get to see it fully completed, as he passed away just a few months before the work officially ended. However, it was his son Lincoln who stepped in to complete the great work his father had started.

9

An extra foot

Image: Andrew Ling

Borglum believed this monument should stand the test of time, built to inspire and be admired for thousands of years to come. So, how did he achieve that? Some historical sources suggest one of Borglum's techniques was adding extra material to certain angled areas of the sculpture, like Washington's nose, for example. That's right! It's believed that the author added an extra foot to George Washington's nose to help it better withstand erosion over time.

10

The man behind the name

Image: Pamela Huber

Long before the presidents were carved into the Black Hills, a New York lawyer paid a visit to the area, and that visit wouldn't go unnoticed. In 1885, attorney Charles E. Rushmore was at the site for business, and he asked for the name of a particular peak. When they told him it didn't have a name, he jokingly suggested they could call it "Rushmore Peak." Charles E. Rushmore was actually the first person to make a private donation to get the project started: $5,000! And so it was that his name stuck.

1

"Born to Run" (1975) - Bruce Springsteen

The list’s opener is a Springsteen anthem of escape that was not immediately destined to carry its famous title. In early drafts, the Boss called it "Wings for Wheels" . As the song evolved, the chorus took on a new intensity.

Switching to "Born to Run" sharpened the message, capturing the concept of youth that is expressed in the song.

2

"Hotel California" (1976) - Eagles

Before becoming a haunting allegory of excess, the track carried the placeholder name "Mexican Reggae." The band used that phrase to describe the unusual rhythm and guitar feel they had stumbled upon in rehearsal.

But when Don Henley and Glenn Frey shaped the lyrics, the story became much larger, and the now-classic title stuck.

3

"Good Vibrations" (1966) - The Beach Boys

Brian Wilson envisioned his experimental pop masterpiece under the simpler working title "Good Vibes." The phrase matched the psychedelic optimism of the era, but it didn’t quite sing.

By expanding to "Good Vibrations," Wilson captured the idea of mystical, almost spiritual energy.

4

"Free Fallin’" (1989) - Tom Petty

This timeless ballad started life with the less evocative title "It’s a Long Day," borrowed directly from the opening lyric of the second verse. The phrase, while descriptive, lacked the lyrical punch Petty wanted for a chorus.

As the song took shape, "Free Fallin’ " emerged as the hook that defined the track.

5

"Superstition" (1972)- Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder’s funk classic nearly went to press as "Very Superstitious. " That title echoed the first line and emphasized the theme, but it felt slightly clunky when repeated.

Stripping it down to "Superstition" lent the track greater impact. With it, the song became one of Wonder’s defining masterpieces.

6

"Respect" (1967) - Aretha Franklin

Aretha’s most famous song was nearly titled "Take Care, TCB," highlighting her famous line about "Taking Care of Business."

In the end, keeping it simply "Respect" made the track timeless. The title embodied empowerment and self-worth.

7

"What’s Going On" (1971) - Marvin Gaye

When Marvin Gaye began work on his masterpiece, the track carried the working name "What’s Happenin’ Brother." That phrase later became the title of a different song on the same album.

By renaming it "What’s Going On," Gaye gave the song broader resonance.

8

"Blowin’ in the Wind" (1962) - Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan’s folk anthem once had a far more literal title in mind: "Answer, My Friend." The phrase came from the chorus line that would become the song’s most quoted passage.

Choosing "Blowin’ in the Wind" turned a straightforward lyric into a metaphor for freedom and justice.

9

"Crazy" (1961) - Patsy Cline

Willie Nelson originally drafted this ballad under the blunt title "Stupid." Though catchy, it didn’t capture the tenderness he wanted for the song.

Delivered with Patsy Cline’s aching vocals, "Crazy" became a country standard and one of the most recorded ballads of its era.

10

"Born in the U.S.A." (1984) - Bruce Springsteen

This track was first conceived under the stark working title "Vietnam." Its focus was originally narrower, highlighting the struggles of veterans returning home from war.

By renaming it "Born in the U.S.A.," Springsteen expanded the scope. The patriotic-sounding title created a powerful contrast with the song’s harsh lyrics.

11

"Material Girl" (1985) - Madonna

Written by Peter Brown and Robert Rans, the pop hit almost debuted as "Living in a Material World." The longer phrase fit the chorus but lacked the commercial hook they wanted.

Shortening it to "Material Girl" made all the difference. The title captured Madonna’s persona — a moniker that stuck with her for the duration of her legendary career — and helped define an era.

1

Daiquiri

Is it possible that our favorite vacation cocktail was originally a "medicine"? Back in 1898, an American mining engineer named Jennings Cox was working in the village of Daiquiri, Cuba. He mixed local rum, lime, and sugar to keep his workers refreshed and to ward off yellow fever.

This drink migrated to the States, becoming popular during the 1940s and 1950s, and a favorite of Ernest Hemingway and President John F. Kennedy . While Hemingway famously drank daiquiris in Havana, JFK later helped make the cocktail fashionable in American political circles. Rum brands like Bacardi and Captain Morgan helped make the cocktail a summer favorite, and the original recipe started to vary among bars and vacation spots.

2

Hamburger

Did you know one famous hamburger origin story points to a small town in New York? According to the Menches family legend, brothers Frank and Charles Menches were selling pork sausage sandwiches at the 1885 Erie County Fair in Hamburg, New York, when they ran out of pork . A local butcher suggested ground beef instead. The brothers reportedly seasoned the beef with coffee, brown sugar, and other ingredients, then served it between bread with ketchup and sliced onions. The sandwich was said to be a hit, so they named it the "hamburger" after the town where the fair was held.

3

German Chocolate Cake

Don’t let the name fool you into thinking this recipe comes from overseas. This dessert was actually born in Dallas in 1957 when Mrs. George Clay sent the recipe to the local newspaper, the Dallas Morning News . The German part actually comes from Sam German, the man who developed the dark baking chocolate for Baker’s Chocolates Company back in the 1850s.

This cake quickly became a sensation at birthdays and other celebrations thanks to its coconut-pecan frosting. The confection eventually inspired similar cupcakes, brownies, and even an ice cream flavor.

4

Philly Cheesesteak

One of Philadelphia’s most famous foods started almost by accident. In 1930, Pat Olivieri was running a hot dog stand in South Philly when he decided to grill some chopped beef and place it inside an Italian roll for himself. A taxi driver nearby smelled it, asked for one too, and legend follows that the word spread quickly around the city .

Shortly after, melted cheese became part of the recipe —usually Cheez Whiz, provolone, or American cheese. Today, locals debate whether the best version is sold at Pat's King of Steaks or Geno's Steaks.

5

Hot Dog

Just like the hot dog itself has two main ingredients, its origin story also comes in two parts. Some people say the sausage came from Frankfurt, Germany, while others believe the wieners of Vienna, Austria, inspired it. Frankfurt even celebrated the sausage’s 500th anniversary in 1897 to strengthen its claim.

But how did the hot dog become an American favorite? Before the 1850s, people in New York usually ate frankfurters between two slices of bread. Around that time, Austrian baker Ignatz Frischman arrived near Coney Island, and he noticed how much the crowds loved the sandwiches. After opening his bakery, he created a long, soft roll made especially for the sausages, and street vendors quickly started using them .

6

S'mores

The first known recipe for the summertime classic appeared in a 1927 Girl Scout handbook, where campers were taught to roast marshmallows over a fire and sandwich them between graham crackers and chocolate.

Companies like Hershey's, Jet-Puffed, and Honey Maid helped turn s’mores into a must for campfire treats, and now, they can be made in ovens or microwaves with peanut butter or flavored chocolate.

7

Corn Dog

A hot dog dipped in cornmeal batter, placed on a stick, and deep-fried until golden brown. That is how a classic corn dog is made. During the late 1920s, one Minnesota family sold their version of the corn dog at the Oregon local fairs under the name "Pronto Pup" because they disliked the term "corn dog." Even so, "corn dog" became the most recognized name, especially after state fairs in Texas and the Midwest helped popularize it throughout the country.

They are staples at carnivals, baseball games, and amusement parks, and are usually adorned with mustard or ketchup . Also, newer versions use spicy sausages, cheese-filled batter, or mini bite-sized pieces for easy snacking.

8

Lobster Roll

One early story places its birth in a Connecticut restaurant during the 1920s, where warm lobster soaked in butter was served inside a toasted roll. Years later, Maine helped popularize a different version with cold lobster mixed with mayonnaise, and the debate between the two styles continues.

By the 1970s, lobster rolls had turned into a symbol of seaside vacations across the Northeast. People have them at seafood shacks, harbor towns, and summer festivals. Famous spots like Red's Eats became famous for lobster meat rolls, while others, such as Luke's Lobster, helped introduce the sandwich to the rest of the country.

9

Reuben Sandwich

The Reuben Sandwich has been part of a food debate for nearly a century. One version takes us to the 1920s, Omaha, Nebraska, where grocer Reuben Kulakofsky asked for a special sandwich during late-night poker games at a hotel . The other one says a New York deli owner was already serving something very similar around the same time.

No matter the truth, the sandwich was already appearing on menus by the 1930s with its mix of corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing on rye bread. It is a classic choice at American diners and Jewish-style delis.

10

Piña Colada

It first appeared in 1954 at the Caribe Hilton. Bartender "Monchito" Marrero, after trying different recipes, finally arrived at the rum, coconut, pineapple juice fusion we enjoy today.

Coco López and Malibu, both liquor brands, helped turn the drink into an easy, homemade one, enabling more flavors like strawberry, mango, or even banana. Also, as Caribbean vacations and cruise trips became popular during the second half of the 20th century, the piña colada started showing up at beach bars and resorts all over the country.