Hear the story of Mount Rushmore's chief carver from his grandson

Lou Del Bianco will be sharing about the legacy of his grandfather, Luigi Del Bianco, who was the chief carver of Mount Rushmore, at the Pike County Historical Society and Museum in Milford on Sunday, July 28.

The program will be followed by a light supper, dessert and coffee. It begins at 3 p.m. and will be held in The Foundation Room of the museum at 608 Broad St.

As stated in the press release, Lou Del Bianco will be portraying his grandfather. The speaker has been an actor, singer and storyteller for 35 years. "His children’s recordings have garnered five Parents Choice Awards and his one-man shows have been seen by thousands of school children and adults all over the country," the release notes.

Photographs and primary source material will be presented. After 25 years of the family seeking recognition for the stone carver, CBS Sunday Morning covered the unveiling of a plaque honoring Luigi Del Bianco at Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota, the release notes.

Lou Del Bianco's book on his grandfather's legacy and the immigrant struggle, “Out of Rushmore’s Shadow,” will be available for sale and signing by the author, the release states.

Mount Rushmore features the 60-foot-tall likenesses in granite of presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. The monument was designed by sculptor Gutzon Borglum. The project lasted from 1927 to 1941. The National Park Service manages the site.

Tickets to the program cost $45 per person. Seating is limited. For more information, call 570-296-8126 or email pikemuse@ptd.net.

Peter Becker has worked at the Tri-County Independent or its predecessor publications since 1994. Reach him at pbecker@tricountyindependent.com or 570-253-3055 ext. 1588.