Crazy Horse Memorial

After leaving Mount Rushmore we traveled further south to Crazy Horse Memorial. Sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski and Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear officially started the Crazy Horse Memorial June 3, 1948. The Memorial's mission is to honor the culture, tradition and living heritage of North American Indians. This non-profit cultural and educational endeavor is celebrating it's 60th Anniversary this year. The foundation has three major goals: the mountain carving, the Indian Museum of North America, and the Indian University (and Medical Training Center) of North America. All done by donation from private citizens and businesses that support this mission. No tax dollars at work here. The Sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski and his family are strong believers of personal entrepreneurship and have turned down millions of dollars of federal support.

To be carved on the memorial...

WHEN THE COURSE OF HISTORY HAS BEEN TOLD
LET THESE TRUTHS HERE CARVED BE KNOWN:
CONSCIENCE DICTATES CIVILIZATIONS LIVE
AND DUTY OURS TO PLACE BEFORE THE WORLD,
A CHRONICLE WHICH WILL LONG ENDURE.
FOR LIKE ALL THINGS UNDER US AND BEYOND
INEVITABLY WE MUST PASS INTO OBLIVION.

THIS LAND OF REFUGE TO THE STRANGER
WAS OURS FOR COUNTLESS EONS BEFORE:
CIVILIZATIONS MAJESTIC AND MIGHTY.
OUR GIFTS WERE MANY WHICH WE SHARED
AND GRATITUDE FOR THEM WAS KNOWN.
BUT LATER, GIVEN MY OPPRESSED ONES
WERE MURDER, RAPE AND SANGUINE WAR.

LOOKING EAST FROM WHENCE INVADERS CAME,
GREEDY USURPERS OF OUR HERITAGE.
FOR US THE PAST IS IN OUR HEARTS,
THE FUTURE NEVER TO BE FULFILLED.
TO YOU I GIVE THIS GRANITE EPIC
FOR YOUR DESCENDANTS TO ALWAYS KNOW--
"MY LANDS ARE WHERE MY DEAD LIE BURIED." So said Crazy Horse not long before his death by a traitor's hand.

We spent quite a while reviewing all of the museum artifacts on display. There was also a video telling the story of how the project was started and the plans for the future. This is a very impressive collection of Indian artifacts and artwork. There were artists offering their work for sale. Everything from jewelry to paintings. Very nice work.
We were also entertained by some traditional Lakota Indian dancers.



We stayed until dark and watched their laser light show. It was very impressive and enjoyable. Overall..we all agreed this project will likely still be under way long after we are gone from this world.