Travel to Crazy Horse Monument: A Work in Progress
Posted in Historic, Mountains, Native American, Scenery, Travel | By Guest Author | Tags: Art, Food, Historic, Monuments, Scenery, South Dakota, Travel
Guest Author Peggy Bradshaw; Photos by George Bradshaw
Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear wrote a letter to sculptor Korszak Ziolkowski asking if he would carve a monument to the great Oglala warrior Crazy Horse. Ziolkowski worked on the carving of Mt. Rushmore and Standing Bear wanted the white man to know that the Indians had great heroes also.
The carving was started in 1948 on Thunderhead Mountain, in the Black Hills of South Dakota, a mountain considered sacred by many tribes. Many tribes oppose the defilement of the sacred mountain.
How the Crazy Horse Monument is supposed to look when completed
When completed, the carving will be 641 feet wide and 563 feet high, and will be the world’s largest statue. It depicts an Indian warrior riding on a horse, pointing off into the distance and pays homage to the quote attributed to Crazy Horse: “My lands are where my dead lie buried.”
One image of Chief Crazy Horse's face
Ziolkowski died in 1982 and his wife Ruth and their 10 children remain actively involved in the continuing work being done on the carving. The face was dedicated in 1998 and the work is now focused on the blocking out of the horse’s head.
Progress is slow on the massive monument
Whenever there is a blasting, it is attended by thousands of people, and night light shows of blasting have been scheduled. The project is being funded by donations and grants, and the viewings of the blasts are one of the main fund raising events. You can take a tour bus to the foot of the mountain for a closer look, but the public is not allowed on the mountain.
Also on the grounds is the Native American Educational and Cultural Center featuring museums and gift shops. The main building of the Cultural Center was constructed out of rock that was blasted from the mountain. There are Indian artifacts on display in the museum, including many articles which belonged to Chief Standing Bear. Paintings and other artistic items are on display and most are for sale.
The restaurant at the visitors center serves excellent food and is the most inexpensive one around for miles. Have lunch there instead of going into Custer or other area towns or villages. There is a deck which overlooks the valley below and faces the carving on the mountain. On the patio is a scale model of the finished statue.
The monument is located north of Custer, South Dakota, about 12 miles from Mt. Rushmore. Stop by when you are on your way to Mt. Rushmore and visit this work is progress.
Tomorrow… Come back for our Friday Favorites – Fun with Food!
Tags: Art, Food, Historic, Monuments, Scenery, South Dakota, Travel