When Will Crazy Horse Monument Be Finished?
When Will The Crazy Horse Monument Be Finished?
The Crazy Horse Memorial is a magnificent monument in the Black Hills, which is carved out of the granite of Thunderhead Mountain. The construction of the monument began in 1948 with the first blasts, which removed 10 tons of rock from the mountain. However, the completion of the monument is uncertain and may take decades to realize.
Chief Crazy Horse is a legendary figure among the Oglala Lakota, celebrated for his unique skills, courage, and humility. The monument is truly awe-inspiring, and the monumental task of carving his face is complete. Crazy Horse valiantly fought to preserve the Lakota Way of Life, and the memorial is a profound tribute to all Native Americans. It stands as a testament to the legacy of their rich heritage.
A Finished Crazy Horse Memorial
The monument serves as a reminder, keeping the Lakota story alive. Often, we’re asked about when we can see a finished Crazy Horse Memorial! When will Crazy Horse monument be finished? The construction process could take another 50 to 100 years. However, witnessing the gradual work of the monument is mesmerizing.
Once completed, there may be debate regarding its return to the Lakota. The future remains uncertain, and only time will unveil what lies ahead. The finished Crazy Horse Memorial will be remarkable and impressive.
Crazy Horse Memorial Photos
Opinions on Crazy Horse Memorial
The progress on Thunderhead Mountain may seem slow, as it is a privately funded project and doesn’t receive any taxpayer support. Unfortunately, there is no projected completion date yet, so it’s hard to tell when it will be finished. The carving of Crazy Horse has been in progress for over 75 years!
Chief Henry Standing Bear
Chief Henry Standing Bear commissioned Korczak Ziolkowski to create the memorial. Sadly, Korczak passed away in 1940 before completing the project. His family and wife, Ruth, took on the responsibility of finishing it.
Crazy Horse Memorial hosts various events, such as art shows, story-telling sessions, and performances, which provide a unique insight into Native American culture. You can also grab a bite at Laughing Water, an on-site restaurant from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
We aim to provide an authentic and open portrayal of the Black Hills monuments. Crazy Horse is an exceptional and motivational icon many admire for personal growth. However, there are conflicting perspectives on the monument, with some feeling that it’s an inappropriate portrayal of a humble individual. Additionally, there is no evidence of a legitimate photograph or painting of Crazy Horse, and the subject is still debated in many books.
Photograph of Crazy Horse
There is much uncertainty surrounding other photographs of Crazy Horse. He never agreed to sit for or have his picture taken. Crazy Horse wished to distance himself from the ways of the white man. Crazy Horse aimed to protect the Lakota traditions. He did so at the cost of his own life. The museum has a vast collection of historical artifacts. It provides insights into the lives of Korczak and Ruth Ziolkowski.
The Carver of Crazy Horse Memorial, Korczak Ziolkowski
Little mention is made of Korczak’s first wife, Dorothy Brewster Comstock. She came from a wealthy family, divorced due to mental abuse. Ruth Ross, later Ruth Ziolkowski, arrived to help continue the project. She played an integral role in keeping the dream alive. Ruth was 24 years younger than the polish American, Korczak and bore ten children, five boys and five girls.
It is said that Korczak had a spiritual connection with Crazy Horse. Jadwiga, daughter of Korczak, says Crazy Horse’s spirit resides in the Black Hills. He was waiting for a suitable vessel. Jadwiga asserts that Korczak was that vessel. We do not support this idea.
It’s puzzling why Crazy Horse would have a white man create a statue. The statue is more about the Ziolkowski family’s legacy. It’s said to serve as a counterpart to Mount Rushmore. The movie at the visitor’s center focuses on the family. Included is only a mention of the life of Crazy Horse. However, it is up to personal opinion.
You may find information about Crazy Horse in the corner of the museum. It’s easily missed. Korczak Ziolkowski had a reputation for having a large ego. This goes against the Lakota people’s values of humility. Despite this, Korczak was undoubtedly a dreamer. His family worked hard to depict the Warrior Chief.
Nature and human creations are both significant in their own way. Sadly, both have suffered irreversible damage due to dynamite. Despite this, we must acknowledge their existence. To pay tribute to the Lakota Culture, Crazy Horse Memorial actively engages in educational and outreach programs. However, there is a need to modernize their movie presentation. The 501(c)(3) board should focus on effective management of funds and public education.
Indian University of North America
The Indian University of North America is commendable. It assists Native American students in their college preparations. The school also offers Performing Arts activities on the outdoor deck. Despite the many positive outcomes, the controversy persists.
The number of visitors to Crazy Horse Memorial is close to Rushmore. An American Indian hero is worth a visit, and we can take you there.
Crazy Horse Memorial Activites
- Van Rides to the Top of the Mountain
- Bus Ride to the Front of the Mountain
- Daily Cultural Performances
- Mahkoche Kin: Land Tour by Darrell Red Cloud
- Living Treasures Cultural Exchange
- Artist In Residence
- Legends In Light Laser Show
- Gift from Mother Earth Art Show
- Volksmarch
- Native Americans’ Day
10 Facts About Crazy Horse Memorial
- Crazy Horse Memorial is the world’s largest mountain carving at 563 feet long and 641 feet high.
- The monument has been in progress since 1948 and has no estimated completion date.
- The memorial will depict the Lakota Sioux leader, Crazy Horse, riding a horse and pointing into the distance with his right arm while his left hand is stretched toward his people.
- It was Korczak Ziolkowski’s vision to create a memorial for Native American culture and inspire young people of all cultures by showing them that an individual has the power to make a difference.
- Crazy Horse was a humble man who probably would not want his likeness carved into a mountain. Ziolkowski believed it would be the best way to depict his spirit and legacy.
- The massive undertaking may take 100 years or more to complete.
- Approximately 22 million pounds of granite have been removed from the project thus far!
- Crazy Horse Memorial is located in South Dakota near the Black Hills National Forest and Mount Rushmore National Monument.
- It is owned and operated by the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded in 1947 by sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski and his wife, Ruth Ziolkowski.
- Since its inception, hundreds of people have helped work on chiseling away at the mountain, including members of the Ziolkowski family and volunteers from around the world.
Who is Crazy Horse?
- Crazy Horse was a Warrior Chief of the Oglala Lakota Tribe
- He fought to preserve the way of Life of the Lakota
- Many Native Americans admire Crazy Horse
- His name was originally “Curly”, because of his light colored, curly hair.
- Crazy Horse sought solitude, often times going on vision quests in the Black Hills on Rapid Creek
- Chief Crazy Horse participated in the Battle of Little Bighorn, or Custer’s Last Stand
- Curly was born in 1841 in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Crazy Horse died in September of 1877
- Crazy Horse was shy, modest, generous to the elderly, poor and children
- When called upon, Crazy Horse was always there for his people.
Inspired by one of the most incredible heroes of the Oglala Lakota, Crazy Horse is a work in progress and a monumental undertaking. After Mount Rushmore was carved, Chief Henry Standing Bear approached Korczak Ziolkowski to carve their great hero. it wasn’t to be right away, as Korczak enlisted in the army to fight in World War II.
After two injuries, and the war was over, Korczak was offered to carve great sculptures depicting war heroes and battles throughout Europe, but in the end he thought it would be better to tell the story of a great people. Beginning with $174, construction started on the monument in 1948 and continues on to this day.
The story of this building, the people behind it and the struggles faced in carving the mountain can be found at the visitors center. This is quite possibly the best visitors center in all the Black Hills. It offers an in depth film, artifacts of the Lakota, depictions of the final project, a gift shop and a restaurant. This monument is so large, that all four Presidents can fit inside the head of Crazy Horse.
Chief Crazy Horse had an impossible situation. He could fight protecting the way of life of the Lakota perhaps to the very end of his people, or he could lead the tribe into the hands of the U.S. Army and be forced to live on the reservation, potentially losing the way of the Lakota Life.
Crazy Horse decided in the end that he had to surrender, and left for the Red Cloud Agency. Before surrendering, Crazy Horse along with He Dog, Little Big Man and Iron Crow met to perform a ceremony preparing before turning himself over. General Crook gave orders that Crazy Horse be arrested and taken to an Army Division after his surrender. Although there are conflicting accounts, it is generally accepted that a U.S. Army Guard was responsible for bayonetting Crazy Horse, who died later that evening on September 5, 1877.
What is the controversy surrrounding Crazy Horse Memorial?
Critics of the memorial argue that it is culturally insensitive and disrespectful to Native American traditions. Some have even gone so far as to call for the project to be halted entirely. They argue that the memorial is not in keeping with traditional Native American beliefs and that it perpetuates harmful stereotypes.
It’s likely that Crazy Horse would be outraged at the sight of the monument. He lived as a humble and honorable man. His vision quests provided specific instructions on how to live his life. The sculpture runs directly against the grain of who the man actually is. In the sculpture, the finger is pointing to the Badlands. This is considered a rude gesture.
Some say that the memorial needs more diversity and Native American representation. The Native American University at Crazy Horse Memorial is more of a preperatory school, not a university. In addition, if Mount Rushmore is a desicration to a holy mountain, then the same goes for Crazy Horse Memorial. One could conclude that Chief Henry Standing Bear wanted a sculpture bigger and better than Rudhmore.
When will the Crazy Horse monument be finished?
No answer exists for this question. From personal observation, it will take decades. Progress has been notable on his hand and finger. New methods are being used, and could help speed up the project significantly.
Why is there no evidence of a legitimate photograph or painting of Crazy Horse?
Crazy Horse is the only Lakota Chief I know that lived his life almost entirely according to tradition. He never adopted the white way. He never drank alcohol, dressed in white persons clothing, spoke English and much more. He never had his photograph taken or portrait made because this was not the Lakota way. It makes perfect sense that no photo or painting exists.
My Own Personal Thoughts On Crazy Horse Monument
When visiting the Crazy Horse Memorial, it’s hard not to feel a sense of imbalance. What began as a tribute to one of the greatest Lakota leaders has shifted its focus, more often telling the story of the Korczak Ziolkowski family than of Crazy Horse himself. The monument looms large, yet the man behind it feels almost hidden in its shadow. Full disclosure – The family should be proud of all their accomplishments and hard work.
I once asked Whitney Rencountre, CEO of the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation, about this imbalance. The only noticeable change since has been a slight update to the film they show, a teaspoon of new information about the man the mountain is supposed to honor. It’s progress, but there’s still a long way to go to restore Crazy Horse’s voice in his own story.
Crazy Horse was not a man who sought fame or monuments. It is said that he was humble, private, and deeply spiritual — a leader who carried the weight of responsibility with quiet strength. He was known as a Shirt Wearer, one of those chosen to lead not through words but through example. In good times and in hardship, he always went first. He made difficult decisions with compassion, understanding that true leadership is service, not status.
He was also a Heyoka, a sacred clown, one who teaches through humility, paradox, and humor. It’s this side of him that’s often forgotten: the quiet wisdom, the deep humanity, the man who gave everything for his people yet never sought to be remembered in stone.
The real Crazy Horse doesn’t live in granite. He lives in stories, in memory, and in the land he fought to protect. Maybe the best way to honor him isn’t by finishing the mountain, but by learning who he really was — and listening.
Directions To Crazy Horse Memorial
- Keystone to Crazy Horse Memorial: 36 Min
- Custer to Crazy Horse Memorial: 15 Min
- Deadwood to Crazy Horse Memorial: 1 hr, 13 Min
- Rapid City to Crazy Horse Memorial: 51 Minutes
- Rapid City Airport to Crazy Horse Memorial: 1 hr 2 min
- Mount Rushmore to Crazy Horse Memorial: 33 min