Mount Rushmore is an American icon: Its majestic, 60-foot-tall carved presidential heads, overlooking South Dakota’s Black Hills, have been immortalized in cinema and remain a bucket-list destination for U.S. travelers.

On Oct. 1, the state’s most recognizable landmark will mark the 100 th anniversary of its dedication as a national memorial. While illustrious, it’s a site with a checkered history, beloved to some, anathema to others and an enduring symbol of America’s complicated past .

“To some people it’s a point of great pride, but to others it’s an evil symbol of the horrible things done to Native people,” said Tom Lawrence, a fourth-generation South Dakota and local writer. “I love Rushmore, but I understand the complex history behind it.”

More recently, some have floated

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