Spartan Profiles: Dan Wenk

MOUNT RUSHMORE

            Who are the four most famous guys in rock?  One clever answer might be George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln—national icons whose faces make up the rock sculpture at Mount Rushmore.  A recent $67 million renovation, most of it from private sources, has upgraded the visitor facilities and services of this American shrine in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The person who spearheaded this project was Daniel N. Wenk, ’75, superintendent of the Mount Rushmore National Park from 1985-2001, who negotiated two concession contracts for the construction of new facilities.  

            “It has been a privilege to be at one of our greatest monuments,” says Wenk, now director of the National Park Service’s headquarters in Denver.   “It evokes tremendous feelings of pride and patriotism, and also evokes wonderful feelings of America for people from around the world.”  Indeed, one of those international visitors was British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, whom Dan was delighted to host some years ago. 

            “We needed to upgrade the facility so we can tell the story of Mt. Rushmore as it should be told,” says Dan, noting the new $10 million amphitheater in the visitors center and its booming surround sound capabilities.  “Why are these presidents there?  What’s the significance of the Avenue of the Flags?”  Part of the funds raised go to maintenance, he explains, since blocks of granite can crack over time due to freeze-dry cycles.  

            During his years as superintendent at Mount Rushmore, Dan also implemented a series of training programs and served as co-chair of the National Park Service’s Discover 2000 General Conference.  Currently he oversees all the planning, design and construction services for the National Park Service, while headquartered in Denver.

            A native of Chelsea, Dan followed a cousin to MSU to study landscape architecture.  “I wish I could do those four years all over again,” he says.  “MSU gave me my foundation.  I especially appreciate the involvement of students in international affairs at the time and the global view we had.”  Dan also touts former landscape architecture professor John Burroughs.  “He used to make me so mad I could hardly stand it, but thank God he did,” recalls Dan.  “He forced me to understand that my responsibility was not just to myself, but also to my community and to my nation. MSU was definitely the right place at the right time for me, and I’m very thankful for four wonderful years.”