A Little History
Just down the road from Mount Rushmore, the Crazy Horse Memorial is the world’s largest mountain carving still in progress. Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear invited sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski, who had worked on Mount Rushmore, to create a memorial honoring the Lakota leader Crazy Horse, and the first blast came in 1948. The 87.5-foot face was completed in 1998, and when finished the carving is planned to measure 641 feet long and 563 feet high. The project has never taken federal or state funding; it’s paid for entirely by visitors and private donations.
Our Visit
Since we were already camped at Oreville Campground, we took our time that morning and made a camp breakfast. Lola did her business, and then we made the 20-minute drive to Crazy Horse Memorial.
A Mountain Carving Decades in the Making
The history behind this monument is absolutely amazing. I never realized it has been an ongoing project for so long. I also didn’t realize the end goal is to carve the horse out of the rock as well!
Carried Like a Princess (Again)
Luckily, Lola was allowed in. However, I was advised that she couldn’t walk on the wood floors in the visitor center… (They were ALL wood floors.) 🤣
Needless to say, Lola was carried like a princess the whole time we were inside. She didn’t mind one bit, and she collected plenty of smiles along the way.
Taking pictures with a pug in one arm was a huge challenge. Even so, I managed to grab a bunch of shots of the stunning Native American history on display at Crazy Horse Memorial.
The Bison Exhibit at Crazy Horse Memorial
They even have a lower floor that shows the absolute slaughter of the American bison, and how their numbers have slowly been built back up. It’s sobering, and it’s well worth the time.
Once again, I opted not to hike the trail that goes up to the mountain. I’ll save that for another trip! To plan your own visit, check the Crazy Horse Memorial website.
Next stop: Devils Tower, Wyoming →
Enjoying the adventures?
Buy my human a coffee for the long drives, or buy me a biscuit. 25% of your purchase goes to local rescues & shelters. — Lola 🐾
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