True, erosion is faster, but the reason it’s not done is one of the reasons I fell in love with the place – they do not feed a the public trough. There is a family-run foundation (almost all the descendants of the couple who began the project) which solely funds and oversees the construction. Uncle Sam has tried to take over, but of course had conditions, and that was unacceptable to the family, and I have such respect for them.

And from an artistic standpoint, it’s so much more exciting than a bunch of dead presidents!

Just don’t try to run the marathon there – it’s the most poorly organized race I’ve ever been to.