CHIEF CRAZY HORSE MONUMENT

We are a little obsessed with this monument.   It's kind of odd to feel that way, because when you think about it, carving up mountains doesn't seem like something nature lovers would necessarily applaud.  (I hope this admission doesn't get me on the Patriot Act list of suspicious persons, but Mount Rushmore, which is nearby, kind of left us cold.  We went to see it the first time we were in South Dakota.  It looks better in the movies or on stamps or license plates than it does "in person" and we don't especially want to go to see it again.) 

On the other hand, this was our third visit to Crazy Horse and we'd definitely go again whenever we're in our adopted home state.

 There are so many facets to the amazing story of this monument.   It isn't hard to see why it is so fascinating. One of the main reasons it's so interesting is that you are seeing a work in progress.  This is a current picture of the unfinished monument from the viewing veranda in the visitor center.  In the foreground is a 1/34 scale model.   Chief Crazy Horse is pointing to the lands that once belonged to his tribe.  He said  "My lands are where my dead lie buried."

 

Millions of tons of rock have been removed from the mountain.  The face of Chief Crazy Horse is nine-stories high.  Right now, the work is on the horse's head, which is 22 stories.  The whole sculpture is being built in the round.  This poster (click on it to enlarge) gives the actual measurements.

The statue's creator was Korzak Ziolkowski.   A respected marble sculptor, he had assisted Gutzon Borglum in creating Mount Rushmore.  Some time after that monument was dedicated, Lakota Chief Standing Bear asked Korzak to the Black Hills to carve Crazy Horse.  He said: "My fellow chiefs and I would like the white man to know that the red man has great heroes, too."    Korzak  (he is always referred to by his first name) accepted the challenge and began to design a monument that he knew would take generations to complete.  He began work in 1948, without much money and without very good working tools. 

I think the monument does a good job of honoring the Native Americans who inhabited this area.  Korzak's family has established the Indian Museum of North America on the grounds of the monument.  In the Visitor Center, there is a huge collection of Native American artifacts, a collection of Edward Curtis photos of Native Americans, and a cultural center for Native Americans of all tribes.  

 In this picture, you can see where they are going to blast out the horse's head.

The Ziolkowski family story is fascinating.  Korzak married Ruth after he began work on the monument.  They had ten children who were raised with the project.  Korzak died in 1982.  Work continues from detailed plans that he left, because he always knew that it would take more than a lifetime.  His widow, Ruth, heads the foundation.  Seven of their children, as well as some grandchildren, have an active role working on the monument.  You can tour part of their original home. 

The Mountain is a private foundation and they have never accepted any public funding. At the beginning, Korzak supported the family by running a lumber mill and a dairy farm at the same time as he worked on the carving.  His motto was "Never forget your dreams."

The visitor center was established pretty early in the process and it is very active now.  Of course these days they get private donations.  All of the buildings were built made from stone fragments blasted off the mountain.

On a previous visit to the Monument, we got to see a night blast.  These take place twice a year, on Korzak's birthday (which date he shares with Chief Crazy Horse) and on Ruth's birthday.  We just arrived by chance on the right day that time.

Here is a link to the Crazy Horse website:  http://www.crazyhorse.org .  Never forget your dreams! 

Comments

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Very good information! I enjoy a couple of from the articles which have been written, and particularly the comments posted! I will definitely be visiting again! Thanks a lot for your info,the best page up until now.

[H.ART ANDERSON]

I VISITED THE MOUNTAIN BEFORE KORZAK DIED AFTER I
VISITED MT.RUSHMORE AROUND 1980.
AT RUSHMORE A INDIAN CHIEF I BELIEVE ASKED ME IF I
WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A PICTURE OF HIM,I DIDN'T BUT I
WAS SORRY EVER SINCE,FOR NOT DOING SO,BECAUSE HE
WAS A COMPOSITE OF THREE INDIANS THAT WERE USED TO
MAKE THE BUFFALO NICKEL !
BOTH MTs. ARE A FANTASTIC SIGHT TO BEHOLD .
I WOULD LIKE TO VISIT BOTH PLACES AGAIN !

[Sandra Newsome]

Saw this wonderful place in 1981 gave me chill bumps and beautiful memories. I wish I could see it complete. Mr.K.died after our visit, sadly. Cherish picture of his wife and myself. Also saw him sitting at kitchen table that day. People who say it is not a great place are so very wrong. As for slow progress they have to be so careful for one mistake could be a big problem! Would go there every year if i could . MT. Rushmore also. So much to see !! Go see it for me.

[Tom Stevenson]

I saw the mountain back in 1959 while en route to a ranch near Granby, CO. I've every intention of returning to the CCHM site within the next few years. While odds are the monument won't be finished in my lifetime, I can only imagine our FIRST native Americans in celebration of its completed introduction to the world.

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this should be a world's heritage, it's freakin' amazing!

[Liana Luciano]

hi
we were in utah in 1995 and have seen the "beginning" of crazy horse. now we just wanted to see if it´s done already!
i think it will take a lot of years!?
good working!!!
liana and kids, now living in germany

[Geoff]

This is, I think, the difference:
Crazy Horse is a fantastic, beyond-belief story of a man struggling against insane odds. And accomplishing an amazing amount. Way more than you'd expect.

Mt Rushmore is the story of the federal government putting everything they had into a sculpture. And getting about what you'd expect.

The Rushmore story just isn't as neat.