How to Draw Mount Rushmore: Easy 10-Step Guide for Kids

Bring history to life with this step-by-step Mount Rushmore drawing lesson, designed specifically for ages 7 and up. You will only need a pencil, an eraser, and some paper to capture these four iconic presidents. By the end of this session, you’ll have a completed landscape sketch that builds confidence in drawing facial proportions and natural textures.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

A vibrant, completed drawing of the Mount Rushmore monument, showcasing the four presidents and surrounding forest.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sketching George Washington

Start by drawing the profile of George Washington. Use soft, curved lines to outline his hair, nose, and jawline. Teacher's Tip: Keep your pencil pressure light so you can easily adjust the shape if the nose looks a bit too long or short.

Step 2: Adding Details and Jefferson

Add the lapels of Washington's coat, then begin sketching Thomas Jefferson’s profile facing the opposite direction. Teacher's Tip: Use the 'mirror' technique—since they face away from each other, think of their noses as the center point of the mountain.

Step 3: Refining Jefferson

Detailed sketch of Thomas Jefferson's face added to the Mount Rushmore drawing.

Complete Jefferson’s facial features, including his hair and brow line. Teacher's Tip: Use short, quick strokes for the hair to give it a rugged, stone-like texture rather than a smooth, cartoonish look.

Step 4: Sketching Theodore Roosevelt

Sketch of Theodore Roosevelt's face with his iconic mustache and glasses.

Draw Theodore Roosevelt’s face, focusing on his signature mustache and strong brow. Teacher's Tip: Roosevelt’s glasses are a key identifier; draw them as two small, slightly tilted ovals.

Step 5: Finishing Roosevelt and Starting Lincoln

Add texture to Roosevelt's hair, then begin Abraham Lincoln’s profile. Teacher's Tip: Lincoln has a very distinct, sharp jawline. Use a straight, firm line to capture his serious expression.

Step 6: Detailing Lincoln and the Cliff

Outline Lincoln’s beard and hair, then draw the jagged cliff face behind him. Teacher's Tip: Don't make the cliff lines too perfect; mountains are naturally uneven, so let your hand be a little shaky!

Step 7: Adding Mountain Texture and Trees

Adding rocky texture to the mountain and starting the pine trees at the base.

Add texture lines to the mountain and start drawing the evergreen trees at the base. Teacher's Tip: Use a 'zigzag' motion for the tree branches to create that classic pine tree look.

Step 8: Filling in the Forest

A forest of pine trees added to the base of the mountain to create perspective.

Add more pine trees at the base, varying their sizes to show depth. Teacher's Tip: Draw the trees closer to the bottom of the page larger to make the mountain look further away.

Step 9: Adding Final Details

Final details including rocky ground textures and clouds in the sky.

Draw the rocky debris at the base and add fluffy clouds in the sky. Teacher's Tip: Use 'U' shaped lines for the clouds to keep them looking soft and light against the hard, jagged mountain.

Step 10: Coloring Your Masterpiece

The completed, colored drawing of Mount Rushmore with trees and sky.

Now it's time to color! Use shades of gray and brown for the stone, and vibrant greens for the trees. Teacher's Tip: Try using a darker gray on the side of the faces to create a shadow, making the carvings look 3D.