As we rounded the curve on US Highway 16 outside of Custer, SD, there was Crazy Horse. His face looking out over the Black Hills, “My lands are where my dead lie buried.” As the monument progresses, eventually he will point to the black hills as well. Continuing through the entrance to the park and down the Avenue of the Chiefs, and closer to Crazy Horse, the enormity of the monument became apparent.
The memorial officially began June 3, 1948 with an agreement between sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski and Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear. Ziolkowski’s mission was to honor the culture, tradition and living heritage of North American Indians. This mission is an on-going process which now includes a visitor center, The Indian Museum of North America, Native American Educational and Cultural Center, Laughing Waters Restaurant, Korczak’s Studio and Home, Gift Shop and conference facilities.
There were many areas we found interesting yet none more so than the 1:34 scale model of the monument with the mountain and monument in progress in the background. The scale model is very large making us realize just how large the monument will be when completed.
We visited Korczak’s original home and studio. When Korczak arrived in South Dakota on May 3, 1947, there was no road, water or electricity. He spent his first year in a tent while he was building his log home. Many of the pieces of furniture moved from his home in West Hartford, Connecticut are on display. Various pieces of art work are also
on display including the Horse’s Head which he carved in nine days. Looking at the Horse’s Head we realized just how brilliant an artist Korczak was.
The afternoon we visited we were lucky enough to enjoy dancing by five Native American Dancers. One of the young men was the Lakota Youth War Dancing Champion. His feathers were moving so fast, he could have been flying. After the demonstration, the audience was invited to participate in a dance.
With our visit to all of the diverse aspects of this complex at an end, we departed down the Avenue of the Chiefs, with Crazy Horse’s words once again echoing in our heads, “My lands are where my dead lie buried.” We were glad we made time for the visit.
