Down the road from Mount Rushmore, is the Crazy Horse Memorial. We first learned about this monster project when we watched Youtube's version of "How the States got their Shapes". You really do learn something new every day.
The monument has been in progress since 1948 and is far from completion. The last known work was done in 2010. If completed, it may become the world's largest sculpture, as well as the first non-religious statue.
It will depict Crazy Horse, an Oglala Lakota warrior, riding a horse and pointing into the distance. The memorial was commissioned by Henry Standing Bear, a Lakota elder, to be sculpted by Korczak Ziolkowski. It is operated by the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation, a private non-profit organization.
Crazy Horse was a Native American war leader of the Oglala Lakota. He took up arms against the U.S. Federal government to fight against encroachments on the territories and way of life of the Lakota people.
The memorial is a non-profit undertaking, and receives no federal or state funding. The Memorial Foundation charges fees for its visitor centers and earns revenue from its gift shops.
Your entrance fee lets you explore the museums and gift shop areas, if you are interested in heading to the base of the mountain, it is $4 extra per person. I did see signs advertising tour that will take you to the top of, but seeing as how it was the middle of winter it probably wasn't the best idea.
Overall, it was a good stop off, since we were in the area. Everything from admission prices to purchases from the gift shop goes to continuation of the project. I'd love to see it completed, but it seems like it won't be completed for another 3 generations! Maybe I'll be able to take my grandchildren there to see it completed!
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Additional Info:
GPS:12151 Ave of the Chiefs, Crazy Horse, SD 57730
Costs: $28.00 Per car – more than 2 people
$22.00 = 2 people in car
$11.00 = Per person
$5.00 = Per person on motorcycle,
$5.00 = Per bicycle
Free = Children 6 and Under
