As I have stated in previous posts, I love the Black Hills of South Dakota, especially the world famous memorial to democracy on Mount Rushmore. Although we haven’t visited in more than a decade, past trips to the area are still some of my favorite memories.

The four presidents are not unique in South Dakota, however. Less than an hour away is the site of the world’s largest mountain carving currently in progress, the Crazy Horse Memorial. The facts surrounding the creation of this ongoing work of art are just as fascinating as those surrounding its better-known cousin. (How are they related? Read on)

The original sculptor, Korczak Ziolkowski (pronounced core-chalk  jewel-cuff-ski) was a renowned artist who worked on Rushmore. During his time on that mountain, Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear wrote, asking him to create a memorial to American Indians. The two met to discuss the idea and even toured potential carving sites.

World War II interrupted their plans and it was not until May 3, 1947 that Korczak returned to the black hills to commence work on the project, with the inaugural blast set off on June 3, 1948. He worked on the monument until his death on October 20, 1982, at the age of 74. The man was laid to rest in a tomb that he and his sons blasted from a rock outcropping at the mountain’s base.

Korczak took no salary for his work, which continues today with his children and grandchildren. The sculpture is funded entirely by donations and visitor entrance fees. Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation accepts no government funding and, in fact, when the federal government offered enough money to complete the memorial, the foundation turned them down.

They feared that with the government involved, they would lose control over the project and that was unacceptable. Nothing would be allowed to corrupt the founding vision, starting with the actual carving and extending to the overall plan for the site, which includes  a visitor center, a museum documenting Native American history, and a university.

Work carries on year-round, weather permitting. The principal sculpting method is precision blasting, followed by jackhammers with specially designed bits to smooth the exposed granite.

The transformation over the years is incredible. His head has gone from this:

To this:

Chief Standing Bear wanted people to know that Native Americans also had heroes, and one of the purposes of the Crazy Horse Memorial is to call attention, not only to this man, but to Native American culture. Although the sculpture will take years to finish, its presence and continuing progress is in itself a monument to hard work, dedication, and pride in one’s heritage, qualities that should be admired and, in my humble opinion, aspired to by all.