Crazy Horse Memorial Facts

• 1939 - Korczak Ziolkowski [core-chalk jewel-cuff-ski] a noted New England sculptor, first came to the Black Hills to help Gutzon Borglum on Mount Rushmore. That year Korczak also won first prize for a sculpture at the New York World's Fair. Chief Standing Bear read news reports of Korczak's achievements and invited him to create a mountainous tribute to the North American Indians.


• May 3, 1947 - Korczak Ziolkowski returned to the sacred Black Hills to create a monument of Crazy Horse. He came at the invitation of Chief Henry Standing Bear


• June 3, 1948 - First blast on the mountain. Five survivors of the Battle of the Little Bighorn attended.


• First blast removed 10 ton of rock; today's blasts average about 700 tons.


• Crazy Horse Memorial is the world's largest mountain carving in progress.


• The Memorial's mission is to honor the culture, tradition and living heritage of North American Indians.


• It is being carved in the round and when completed it will be 641 feet long and 563 feet high.


• All four 60-foot high heads on Mt. Rushmore would fit inside just Crazy Horse's head.


• 1950 - Korczak married Ruth Ross.


• Korczak and Ruth had 10 children, five girls and five boys.


• Seven of the 10 children still work on the project.


• October 20, 1982 - Korczak died at age 74, leaving Ruth and family to carry on the dream. They continue it to this day.


• Ruth is the CEO and President of the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation.


• The Memorial is a private, non-profit undertaking financed by admission fees and contributions.


• The Memorial does not accept any government funding.


• Hosts more than a million visitors a year.


• In addition to the mountain carving, there is much more to see and do. The complex includes a visitor center, twin theaters to show orientation DVD, Indian Museum of North America, Native American Cultural Center, education and conference center, sculptor's log-studio home, bronze showroom, gift shops.


• The Crazy Horse Memorial complex is open year-round and work continues on the mountain year-round.


• Several special events held throughout the year, such as the Volksmarch, rodeo, art shows, night blasts, multi-media laser show nightly in-season, Native American Day celebration in October.


• Korczak's vision extended beyond the mountain carving. In 1978, Korczak began a scholarship program with just $250 to start the educational portion of the dream. In 2008, the program has reached the $1 million mark in scholarships, mostly to Indian students attending South Dakota schools.