Crazy Horse...

The first time we visited the Black Hills we were told by a number of people to be sure to visit the Crazy Horse Memorial but somehow we just never made it there. This time it was at the top of the list. It is about sixty-five miles from our campground to Crazy Horse, a good day trip...and we enjoyed the sights along the way.

Just wish we'd stopped to buy a bottle of Red Ass Rhubarb Wine!

If, like me, you don't know how the Crazy Horse Memorial came to be, here's a little background.

In 1939 Korczak Ziolkowski, a sculptor from New England came to the Black Hills to help with Mount Rushmore. He also won first prize that year at the New York World's Fair for a marble portrait he'd done. Chief Standing Bear read about him in the news and invited him to create a mountain tribute to the North American Indians. Chief Crazy Horse was chosen for the monument by the Native American Indians because he was considered to be a warrior without equal and because the American Indians today believe his short life paralleled the tragic history of the North American Indians since their lands were invaded by the white man.

Click all photos to enlarge

Korcazk Ziolkowski and Chief Standing Bear - Reunion of Survivors of the Battle of Little Big Horn

The mountain carving is impressive but the history is what really caught my attention as I've always had an interest in the plight of the North American Indians. The movie you see when you first enter is full of interesting history and is even captioned so I was able to understand all the dialogue. After that we toured the museum, the sculptor's studio, the log home Korczak Ziolkowski built for himself and his family (he lived the first five years in a tent), and the gift shop (of course). I fell in love with some pottery but didn't have $500 to take it home! We also saw a cool demonstration of hoop dancing by some Native American girls.

The Crazy Horse Memorial is the world's largest mountain carving in progress. The sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski started the carving in 1948 and married his wife in 1950. They had ten children, six of whom work on the mountain today along with a some of their twenty-three grandchildren. You can learn more on their website.

                        

We finished our day with dinner at the Laughing Waters Restaurant on the grounds. The profits go to helping fund the Crazy Horse Project.

Seeing Crazy Horse was well worth the one hundred thirty mile round trip.