Discover the Top 13 Fun Facts About the Incredible Crazy Horse Memorial You Never Knew!
1. Michelangelo's Mountain Dream
If Michelangelo had a mountain, he'd probably call it "The Crazy Horse Memorial": This titanic tribute to the famed Lakota Warrior is being carved with advanced tools and old school techniques by a specialized Mountain Crew, resulting in a breathtaking 563-foot-tall and 641-foot-long sculpture.
Source => crazyhorsememorial.org
2. Face-Off: Crazy Horse vs. Mount Rushmore
When Crazy Horse said "go big or go home," he didn't just mean his war face: The Crazy Horse Memorial's grand face measures an astounding 87 feet 6 inches in height, overshadowing the four 60-foot tall president heads at Mount Rushmore. Carving has been ongoing since 1948, and the full monument, featuring Crazy Horse on horseback pointing to his tribal lands, has no completion date in sight—making it one project that won't be rushed (more).
Source => en.wikipedia.org
Did you know that the Forbidden City is home to over 3,500 dragons just in Taihe Hall alone? These fearsome creatures reign supreme in this legendary palace, even outnumbering pigeons at a crumb convention! Discover the incredible extent of their dominance and where they're hiding in plain sight.
=> Fun Facts about The-Forbidden-City
3. Colossal Cranium Showdown
Move over, Mount Rushmore, there's a new colossal cranium in town shaking things up: The Crazy Horse Memorial sports a gargantuan face, measuring 87 feet 6 inches high, outshining even the presidents' mighty noggins! The incomplete monument is set to overshadow even more with dimensions of 641 feet long, 563 feet high, an outstretched arm of 263 feet long, a 70 feet wide and 100 feet high opening under the arm, and a finger that'd put E.T. to shame at 29 feet 6 inches long.
Source => en.wikipedia.org
4. Rockin' Socks Off and Carving Faces
When Crazy Horse isn't busy rocking your socks off in concerts: the Crazy Horse Memorial boasts an 87 feet 6 inches (26.7 m) tall sculpted face, out-sizing the 60 feet high presidential visages on Mount Rushmore, and stands as a testament to the impressive dedication of the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation and the Ziolkowski family over the past 50 years.
Source => en.wikipedia.org
5. The Epitome of Rock-Solid Patience
Knocking on wood for divine intervention: The Crazy Horse Memorial must be the epitome of patience, as it's been 70 years in the making and still not finished! Started in 1948 by the master sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski, and subsequently taken over by his wife Ruth and now their descendants, this magnificent monument hasn't received a dime in federal funding, making it the epitome of a family-sized DIY project - the very rock-solid symbol of strength for the Lakota people.
Source => en.wikipedia.org
6. Million-Dollar Grins and Scholarships
Whoever said laughter was the best medicine clearly wasn't sporting a $2 million grin: Since its humble beginnings in 1978, the Crazy Horse Memorial scholarship program has provided over $2 million in scholarships to Native American students attending colleges or universities in South Dakota and other select institutions, including tribal colleges—spreading beaming smiles and brighter futures with its financially generous doses of education.
Source => crazyhorsememorial.org
7. The NeverEnding Monument
If the Crazy Horse Memorial was a Hollywood movie, it would be titled "The NeverEnding Story": this larger-than-life monument has been under construction since 1948, funded entirely by admission fees and private donations, and all while graciously declining government assistance.
Source => builtinchicago.org
8. Ziolkowski Family's Mountain Home-Schooling
Are you sitting down? Because this next tidbit might just make you swoon over the dedication of a family to a giant mountain carving: The founder of the Crazy Horse Memorial, Korczak Ziolkowski, not only devoted his life to the monument but even homeschooled his 10 kids at the site, with several of them taking over the chisel-wielding legacy as adults, further expanding the project to include an Indian Museum of North America and a Native American Educational and Cultural Center.
Source => crazyhorsememorial.org
9. Rock On, Mountain Carvers!
Rock on, Van Goghs of the mountain world: The Mountain Crew styling Crazy Horse Memorial are sculpting rock and roll in their own way— using hydraulic drills, hand drills, and rock splitters, as well as feathers and wedge sets. As they break the rock free and carve closer to finish grade, they chisel away mostly by hand and with minimal blasting, while Manitou 3255RT and Potain IGO T130 self-erecting crane take the stage for lowering the fragments. Applause, please, for the approximately 1,000,000 tons of rock booted off from the mountain in this monumental performance of artistry!
Source => crazyhorsememorial.org
10. Techno-Michelangelo's Laser Reveal
You know how Michelangelo would chip away rock to find "the figure within"? Well, Crazy Horse Memorial's Mountain Crew went all techno-Michelangelo on us: They use laser scanning equipment to measure the entire mountain, creating three-dimensional computer models that reveal Sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski's hidden masterpiece, guiding them as they remove the rock concealing it.
Source => crazyhorsememorial.org
11. The Ultimate Point and Wink
Ever wanted to give someone the biggest "point and wink" of all time? Best tell legendary Lakota warrior Crazy Horse, who's been working on it since 1948: The Crazy Horse Memorial, located in South Dakota, is the world's largest statue and depicts Crazy Horse riding his trusty steed, left hand pointing onwards to signify Native American unity. The monumental undertaking was started by sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski and to this day remains a work in progress, funded by donations and visitor fees.
Source => crazyhorsememorial.org
12. Distant Cousins of Chiseled Fame
They say good fences make good neighbors, but when it comes to mountain-sized presidential faces and Native American warriors, they're more like distant cousins: Crazy Horse Memorial, an ode to the legendary Lakota leader, may share a zip code with Mount Rushmore, but it's actually 17 miles southwest of the chiseled commanders and has its very own entrance along US Highway 16/385.
Source => crazyhorsememorial.org
13. Big Brother Horsing Around
Imagine if Mount Rushmore had a big brother who decided to horse around a bit more: The Crazy Horse Memorial measures a whopping 641 feet long and 563 feet high, depicting the esteemed Lakota leader in full equestrian glory. This colossal mountain carving, in progress since 1948, will eventually stand nearly three times taller than its presidential neighbor.
Source => crazyhorsememorial.org
