In 1933, Brule Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear learned of a monument that was to be constructed at Fort Robinson, Nebraska. The monument was to honor his maternal cousin Crazy Horse who was killed at Fort Robinson in 1877. Standing Bear wrote to James Cook who was steering the planned project – sharing with Cook that he and many of his fellow Lakota leaders had formed the Crazy Horse Memorial Association and were promoting a carving of Crazy Horse in the sacred Paha Sapa, in direct contrast and opposition to nearby Mount Rushmore. Standing Bear explained that as a relative of Crazy Horse, it was culturally appropriate for him to initiate such a memorial to his cousin. In addition, Standing Bear believed strongly that the Black Hills, because of the spiritual significance to the Lakota people, was the only appropriate place for such a memorial. These two beliefs would finally lead Standing Bear to search for someone with skills great enough to carve a memorial to Crazy Horse. The artist eventually charged with the task of creating a lasting monument to honour Native American culture and history was Korczak Ziolkowski, who dedicated the next 40 years of his life to his mission. Started in 1948, the work remains unfinished.
The monument being cut into the granite of Thunder Mountain is intended to be the largest sculpture in the world at 563 feet in length and 641 feet in height, making it significantly larger than the Mount Rushmore National Memorial. When realized, the sculpture will depict Crazy Horse astride a horse and pointing into the distance. Unlike Mount Rushmore, the Crazy Horse Memorial is funded entirely by private donations and without federal support, which is one of the reasons it has not been completed.
However, the work and the site are controversial due to the monument’s location on sacred land, its lack of consultation with Native American groups, its portrayal of a complex historical figure, and the broader implications of using Native culture for commercial purposes. These issues continue to fuel debate about the memorial’s legacy and meaning, not least the argument that Henry Standing Bear was not talking for the whole Lakota nation when he sanctioned the desecration of the mountain for the project. Critics believe that this lack of consultation represents a broader issue of Native American disenfranchisement and the disregard for Indigenous sovereignty over land and cultural matters.
The memorial attracts millions of visitors each year, generating revenue through tourism. While some Native people benefit from the economic opportunities created by the memorial, others feel that it commercializes and appropriates Native culture and history. They argue that the profits should be used for direct community benefit or to support Native causes rather than a large-scale tourist attraction. There are concerns that the memorial, by focusing on one figure, may not fully or accurately represent the complexities of Native American history, particularly the legacy of resistance to colonialism, displacement, and violence. Some feel that the portrayal of Crazy Horse in the memorial as a static, heroic figure might not capture the full story of his life and the broader context of Indigenous resistance. Others question whether the memorial is a fitting tribute, given the nature of his struggle against U.S. forces and the oppression of his people. The unfinished monument is often seen as a symbol of the ongoing struggles faced by Native Americans, particularly in terms of gaining recognition and justice.