He had initially suggested a well-known area of the Black Hills, Needles, named after large distinct eroded granite pillars.

In August 1925, Borglum had made a second trip to South Dakota and declared Mount Rushmore would be the site of this grand Sculpture project.

After reading about Stone Mountain near Atlanta, Georgia, Robinson was inspired to create a sculpture project at the Needles, to have several granite pillars carved as likenesses of famous people.

The funds were denied, and many groups disliked the idea, including the Lakota people (Sioux), who considered the Black Hills to be sacred ground.

Environmentalist Cora Johnson of the Hot Springs Star newspaper believed that such a carving would destroy the natural landscape.

On Borglum's second meeting with Robinson, the sculptor recommended changing the location for the sculpture project from the Needles to Mount Rushmore.

Borglum also decided that the sculptures should have a larger national focus, and he selected four presidents representing different elements and eras of United States history.

In 1929, president Calvin Coolidge finally signed a bill passed by Congress, which created a commission to oversee the sculpting.