Crazy Horse Memorial sits on a mountain between Hill City and Custer, a short drive from Mount Rushmore, and it is a very different kind of place. The carving honors the Oglala Lakota leader Crazy Horse, and it has been under way since 1948, when sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski began work at the invitation of Lakota elders. It is a nonprofit project that has refused government funding, and the family continues the work today. Admission is charged by the carload, with tiers by number of occupants, and covers three museums, an orientation film, views of the sculpture from the veranda and the wall of windows, and scheduled cultural programming. A return pass for another visit within seven days is available from the Welcome Center. The memorial is open daily year-round, though hours vary by season, and the carving cannot be reached on foot or by private vehicle. A short bus ride to the base of the mountain costs a few dollars and gives the best close-up view. Rates change, so confirm current pricing before you go.
The story behind the carving is what separates it from a roadside attraction. Crazy Horse was a Lakota leader who fought to protect his people's land and refused to be photographed or to sign treaties. Chief Henry Standing Bear invited Ziolkowski to carve a memorial so that, in his words, the white man would know the red man had great heroes too.
Ziolkowski died in 1982, and his wife and several of their children carried on the work. Progress is slow because the mountain is being shaped largely by blasting, and the face was dedicated in 1998, with work continuing on the rest of the figure and the horse's head.
On the ground, the visit has three parts. The Welcome Center houses the orientation film and the viewing areas, where you can see the carving through a wall of windows and from an outdoor veranda. The Indian Museum of North America and the Native American Cultural Center present artifacts, art and demonstrations, and they deserve more time than first-time visitors expect.
The optional bus to the base of the mountain lets you stand beneath the work in progress. A separate guided van ride to the top is offered at select times for a much larger gift, and pets are not allowed on the bus or the van. Allow two to three hours, more if you catch cultural programming or a demonstration.
Timing and context shape the experience. The memorial hosts annual events, including a Volksmarch hike up toward the mountain on a spring Saturday and again on a Sunday of the late-September weekend that coincides with the Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup, and evening programs are offered at times, so check the calendar. It is not a federal site, so national park passes do not apply, and there is no separate parking fee.
Combine it with Mount Rushmore in a single day, and compare the two: one is a finished federal memorial, the other an unfinished community project, and the contrast is part of the appeal of a Black Hills trip.
What to expect
The experience
A visitor complex with an orientation film, three museums and cultural programs, plus a viewing veranda and an optional bus to the base of the mountain.
Best time
Daylight hours in any season, since the memorial is open daily year-round. Check seasonal hours before you travel.
How long
Two to three hours, more if you catch a cultural program or the bus ride.
Tips
Admission is by the carload and a re-admit pass covers a return within seven days. National park passes do not apply. Pets are not allowed on the bus.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Visitors who want the Native American story alongside Mount Rushmore.
- Families
- Museums and cultural programs suit school-age children, and the bus ride is a hit with younger ones.
- Couples
- A reflective half day, especially when paired with a quiet lunch in Custer.
- Pair with
- Mount Rushmore, Iron Mountain Road and Custer State Park.
- Time needed
- Two to three hours.
Good questions
How is admission charged?+
By the carload, tiered by the number of occupants, and it includes the museums, the orientation film and the viewing areas. Rates change, so check current pricing before you travel.
Can we walk or drive up to the mountain?+
No. Guests cannot hike or drive their own vehicles to the carving. A short bus ride goes to the base for a few dollars, and a guided van ride to the top is offered at select times.
Do national park passes work here?+
No. The memorial is a privately funded nonprofit, not a federal site, so park passes do not apply.
How long should we plan?+
Two to three hours covers the film, the museums and the viewing areas. Add time for the bus ride and any cultural programs.
Is there a return pass?+
Yes. A re-admit pass for another visit within seven days is available from the Welcome Center, which is useful if you plan to come back for an evening program.
