Controversy With The Location
As you may have read somewhere in the history books, the construction of this monument was not free of controversy. Even before they could start building it, the project faced a roadblock with regard to where it was located. The design was going to change the whole landscape of the location around it and it would result in a permanent change in the geology of the entire place. Some people had a problem with this.
The Native Americans
The Black Hills of South Dakota are considered to be sacred lands by several Native American tribes including the Lakotas, Cheyennes, Arapahos, and some more. The project still went through because the U.S. government had already claimed the area as a National Park. Till today the hills are still used for ritualistic purposes by the Native Americans. Proper compensation for the government using this site is in discussion till date.