The band formed in early 1967 at 1915 Oak Street, a large Victorian rooming house in the Haight-Ashbury district.

The original members were Ed Levin (ex-Vipers), Warren Phillips (ex Blue House Basement), Thomas Dotzler, Mike Bolan and Danny Wei.

In June 1967, Mount Rushmore played two sets at The KFRC Fantasy Fair and Magic Mountain Music Festival.

Bolan and Kimble added Glenn Smith and Travis Fullerton to the line up and this line-up made two albums.

Mike Bolan and Glenn Smith were previously members of The Fabulous Shadows, a band from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, between 1963 and 1968.