On June 3, 1948, the first blast on the Mountain took place. Among those in attendance were five survivors of the Battle of Little Bighorn.
WHERE Located north of Custer at 12151 Avenue of the Chiefs, Crazy Horse Memorial is hard to miss as you drive along Highway 16/385. FEES AND DONATIONS The project, founded and operated on a strong belief in free enterprise, is funded by visitor entrance fees and donations and does not accept government funding. DON’T MISS INSIDE Inside the 40,000-square-foot Welcome Center is where the storytelling begins. Two theaters show the must-see “Dynamite & Dreams” 20-minute video.
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and “around the house.” Still today, many Ziolkowski family members carry on the family legacy. Following Korczak’s death on October 20, 1982, Ruth made the well-considered decision to shift focus to Crazy Horse’s Face, a profile that would be visible proof of the project’s continuation. This effort to show the world was a success, and was marked by the dedication of Crazy Horse’s finished Face on June 3, 1998. This was one of many milestones that took place as Ruth carried on the leadership role. She remained heavily involved in all aspects until her death on May 21, 2014.
The Mountain Carving Room focuses on the mountain caving, with the short DVD of most recent tools and carving steps. The Indian Museum of North America®, the visitor complex, and the scale models. The Native American Educational & Cultural Center®, where American Indian artists and artisans create their work and visit with the guests.
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Photo © Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation
on the Mountain with sixfoot-wide white lines, using 164 gallons of paint, to help visitors envision the future. With Mountain measurements and binoculars in hand, Ruth directed construction by radio from the Visitor Center while Korczak dangled from a rope nearly one mile away, painting on the Mountain. Ruth and Korczak were married on Thanksgiving Day in 1950 and started a family at Crazy Horse; by the mid-1960s, they had ten children. The children contributed to the progressing Dream; while the boys helped Korczak on the Mountain, the girls assisted Ruth in the Visitor Complex
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