Visiting the Crazy Horse Memorial: what to see and how to plan it

Just a few miles north of Custer, a mountain is slowly being turned into the largest sculpture in the world. The Crazy Horse Memorial honours the Lakota leader Crazy Horse and the Native peoples of North America. It is still far from finished, and that is part of what makes a visit so interesting. This guide explains what you will see and how to plan your time.

The story of the carving

In 1939 the Lakota elder Henry Standing Bear wrote to the sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski, who had worked on Mount Rushmore, asking him to carve a memorial so that “the white man will know the red man has great heroes, too.” Ziolkowski began work in 1948 and carried on until his death in 1982. His wife Ruth and their children continued the project, and the face of Crazy Horse, about 87 feet (27 m) tall, was completed in 1998.

The finished carving is planned to show Crazy Horse on horseback, pointing over the horse’s head. The memorial takes no federal or state money and is paid for by admission fees and donations, which is one reason why the work is slow.

What to see

• The viewing veranda: the welcome center looks straight at the mountain, about a mile away. A scale model shows what the finished sculpture will look like.
• The Indian Museum of North America: a large collection of art, clothing and objects from many Native nations.
• The Native American Educational and Cultural Center: often with Native artists and performers at work.
• Korczak’s studio-home: the log house and workshop of the sculptor and his family.

Getting closer to the mountain

For an extra fee, a bus takes you from the welcome center to the base of the mountain, for a much closer view of the face. Ask at the ticket desk, as times depend on the season and on blasting work. A few times a year, special tours drive higher up the mountain.

The only way to walk on the carving itself is the Crazy Horse Volksmarch, a 10 km hike up to the arm of the sculpture, held on set weekends, usually in early June and in late September. It is very popular, so check the dates on the memorial’s website well ahead.

The night laser show

From late May to late September, a laser light show is projected onto the mountain each night after dark. It tells the story of the memorial and of Native peoples, and it is included in your admission ticket. Bring a jacket, as evenings in the Black Hills can be cool even in summer.

Planning your visit

• Getting there: the memorial is about 5 miles (8 km) north of downtown Custer on US 16/385, on the way to Hill City.
• Tickets: admission is charged per person or per car. Check current prices before you go.
• Time: allow two to three hours, more if you stay for the laser show.
• Combine it: Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore are about 30 minutes apart. Our three-day Black Hills itinerary and Mount Rushmore guide show how to fit both in.