CARMORE

Inscription

CARMORE
ESTATE OF CHARLES E. RUSHMORE,
A SENIOR PARTNER IN LAW FIRM
RUSHMORE, BISBEE & STERN AND
NAMESAKE OF MT. RUSHMORE.
CONSTRUCTION BEGAN IN 1908.
WILLIAM G. POMEROY FOUNDATION 2026

Charles E. Rushmore was born in 1858 in New York City. After attending what is now the City College of New York, he studied law at the Paddock & Cannon firm and began a successful legal career. He co-founded the Fullerton & Rushmore law firm in 1879.

Rushmore was sent west to the Black Hills of South Dakota in 1884 to secure mining interests following the discovery of tin deposits. During this trip, Rushmore asked local prospectors if a prominent granite peak had a name. When told it did not, they suggested naming it after him. The title endured and ultimately became associated with what is now Mount Rushmore.

Returning to New York, Rushmore continued to advance professionally. In 1890 he partnered with Simon H. Stern to form Stern & Rushmore, which later became Rushmore, Bisbee & Stern with the addition of Eldon Bisbee around 1904. Rushmore conducted a large general practice, representing merchants, bankers, banks, and trust companies, and appeared before state and federal courts. He was especially known for his work in banking law and negotiable instruments, remaining a senior partner until retirement.

In the early twentieth century, the declining health of Rushmore’s wife, Jeannette, prompted the family to leave New York City. They settled in Orange County, where Rushmore acquired multiple land parcels in Woodbury, eventually assembling approximately 1,500 acres, including Schunnemunk Mountain. In 1908, he commissioned a large estate at the mountain’s base, featuring a 25-room Spanish Colonial–style mansion and four additional buildings. Construction began that same year at a cost of approximately $90,000.

The residence was completed by 1910 and named Carmore, combining the first three letters of Jeannette Rushmore’s maiden name, Carpenter, with the latter portion of Rushmore’s surname. The estate served as the family home for many years.

Charles E. Rushmore died in New York City in 1931 and was survived by his wife and daughter, who inherited the property. In later years, Carmore was preserved and converted into a bed-and-breakfast and wedding venue.