Korczak Remembrance Day

On Tuesday, Oct. 20, Crazy Horse Memorial visitors will have the rare opportunity to walk to the area outside of sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski’s tomb near the base of his mountain carving in progress.

“Last year, we had such good weather and so many people participated, that we thought we would offer the walk again,” said his wife, memorial president and chief executive Ruth Ziolkowski.

This is just the third time since Korczak’s death in 1982 that his family has invited the public to the area of the tomb that he and his sons created. Last year, more than 200 people paid their respects, many leaving flowers at the gated door.

This year’s walk from the visitor center will be from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In additional tribute to Korczak’s life and inspiration, a 3 p.m. blast, weather permitting, will remove 800 tons from the horse’s head area on the mountain.

It’s been 70 years since hereditary Lakota chief Henry Standing Bear and other tribal elders first invited Boston-born Korczak Ziolkowski to the Black Hills to create a mountain memorial that proclaims “the red man has great heroes also.”

Standing Bear and Korczak dedicated the start of their dream in 1948. Korczak knew he would not live to finish it, and since 1982, Ruth and seven members of their family have led work on the nonprofit memorial’s cultural and humanitarian endeavors honoring all Native Americans.

Admission to the memorial will be waived on Korczak Remembrance Day in lieu of a suggested three cans of food per person for the KOTA Care and Share Food Drive.

The memorial’s guests through September had provided 26,407 pounds of food and $20,360.84 for the regional food bank, with the proceeds distributed through the Rapid City Food Pantry.

Located on Crazy Horse Memorial Highway, US 16/385 between Hill City and Custer, Crazy Horse Memorial is open every day.