Begun by sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski at the request of Lakota chiefs, the statue is a memorial to Native Americans of all tribes. When completed, this in-the-round figure of the chief astride his pony will be 561 feet high and 641 feet long, making it the largest statue in the world. The nine-story-high face of Crazy Horse is complete, and visitors to the site can see ongoing work on the memorial.
The year 2000 was the 50th anniversary of the marriage of Korczak and Ruth Ziolkowski. Seven of their sons and daughters continue working with their mother on the project. In addition to a Crazy Horse Orientation Center, a first stop for future visitors to the memorial, planned facilities will include two theatres, display and exhibition areas, a public viewing gallery and Native American art and artifact restoration areas.
The memorial is located just seven miles from Mount Rushmore, in South Dakota's Black Hills. Open year-round.
