It was started in the late 1940s as a response to Mount Rushmore, and there's no telling when it will be completed. We thought it was just supposed to be the head, but the final version will include his full torso with arm extended (pointing to his lands), and the full head of his horse. They've already been working on it for 50+ years, with still a very long way to go.
Granted, the sculptor, Korczak Ziolkowski, worked the first seven years by himself with a faulty pneumatic drill. He got so desperate for help, he got married and had ten kids.
What was even more astounding was learning how tiny Mt. Rushmore is in comparison. The Crazy Horse head by itself is already bigger than Mt. Rushmore.
Equally impressive is the visitor's center itself. We were there for a couple of hours and could have easily spent the day. There's two theaters that host the intro video, expansive rooms filled with artwork, artifacts, and a full-sized teepee, a restaurant, gift shops, the sculptor's studio, and more. Every where you turn there's more to discover.
We also got to enjoy a talk by a Lakota gentleman who told us about his heritage, the heritage of the other Nations, and his own personal story. Finally, he demonstrated some traditional Lakota dances. The whole of it all was an amazing experience.
No comments:
Post a Comment