Two park rangers recall being the first to clean Mt. Rushmore

By Esther Honig,

Amy Drozdowska

Published July 18, 2025 at 5:04 AM EDT

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Blaine Kortemeyer and Donald Hart at their StoryCorps interview in Custer, South Dakota on July 10, 2015.

In this StoryCorps, two park rangers recall being part of a team specially trained to brave the heights and wash the four faces of the presidents on Mt. Rushmore — something no one had ever attempted.

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Esther Honig

Amy Drozdowska

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