by
Lyman Cox
We went to Mount Rushmore to see the granite faces carved into that mountain. They were impressive and the story of the blasting and carving that created the monument was very interesting.
More interesting to me was the story of creating the Crazy Horse
Monument about 17 miles from Mount Rushmore. During the Rushmore
construction, leaders of local Native American tribes approached Korczak
Ziolkowski a son of immigrant parents who was a sculptor of some renown.
Ziolkowski was orphaned as a
young child and grew up working hard in the construction trade. He gained his
fame as a sculptor without the benefit of artistic training.
He came to the Black Hills in 1947 and began the carving of the mountain in
1948. Though strapped for money he steadfastly refused help from the government.
His funds have come from donations from the public and private foundations.
Ziolkowski died in 1982 at the age of 74. Knowing his project would outlive him,
he left detailed written instructions on how to proceed with the construction.
His wife and 10 children carry on the project. The size of the sculpture is
gigantic. The four faces of Rushmore would all fit on the head of Crazy Horse.
Crazy Horse's face is virtually complete. Unlike the Rushmore monument Crazy
Horse's face was finished with a super size blowtorch. The granite was actually
melted to smooth the rock surface. The project continues, its progress depending
on the availability of money. Visitors can see the sculpture taking shape by
comparing the mountain with a large model at the visitor’s center below the
mountain.
The whole Black Hills area is worth visiting. Rushmore, Crazy Horse and the huge
Custer State Park make it an unforgettable part of the country.
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Photo by Lyman Cox |
Clubhouse | Crazy Horse
