Crazy Horse

Crazy Horse Memorial®

At the request of Chief Henry Standing Bear, Korczak Ziolkowski began work on Crazy Horse Memorial in 1948. Once complete, this tribute to the Lakota leader will be the largest mountain carving in South Dakota and the world. See history in the making, and don’t miss the on-site Indian Museum of North America® and the Native American Educational & Cultural Center®’s educational and cultural programming. 

Below, you’ll find trip-planning tools and frequently asked visitor questions to help you plan your next great adventure to Crazy Horse Memorial!

Indian Museum of North America at Crazy Horse Memorial
While You're Here
NATIVE AMERICAN EDUCATIONAL & CULTURAL CENTER

Visit with Native artisans, try children's activities and games, and see one-of-a-kind artifacts. Of special note is the Edward S. Curtis photo collection.

teepee
While You're Here
INDIAN MUSEUM OF NORTH AMERICA

In a location that incorporates Korczak's love of wood and natural lighting, the museum's collection reflects the histories, cultures and landmarks of the American Indian people.

A Native American storyteller and performer in powwow regalia talking with a group of kids at Crazy Horse Memorial
While You're Here
Special Programs & Events

Gather together and celebrate. Check the Crazy Horse Memorial calendar of events to see what's happening during your visit, from dance performances to storytelling to art shows.

Bronze sculpture of Crazy Horse with the Crazy Horse memorial in the background.
While You're Here
Sculptor Home & Studio

Visit the original Korczak Ziolkowski family home, where Korczak's many sculptural works from before and after he arrived in the Black Hills still reside.

Volksmarch at Crazy Horse Memorial
While You're Here
VOLKSMARCH

The first full weekend in June and following the Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup in September, join thousands of hikers for the 6.2-mile (10-km) trek to the carving's arm, 500 feet above the ground.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

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What is the closest airport to Crazy Horse Memorial?

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What is the driving distance to nearby U.S. cities from Crazy Horse Memorial?

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What is the best time of year to visit Crazy Horse Memorial?

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What are the busiest times of week to visit Crazy Horse Memorial?

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What is the climate, geographic information and history of Crazy Horse Memorial?

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See what other travelers discovered at Crazy Horse Memorial®, and use the hashtag #HiFromSD to share your vacation experiences.

Crazy Horse
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Crazy Horse Map location

12151 Avenue of the Chiefs
Crazy Horse, SD57730
United States

Check out our podcast

The Travel South Dakota Stories

Crazy Horse Memorial outside of Custer, during a beautiful South Dakota sunset.
Episode 3: Legends in Stone

Join us to uncover what makes Indigenous culture in South Dakota so unique. As you hear these stories and the history of this fascinating heritage, you’ll soon discover that you need to experience South Dakota for yourself!

Great 8
Badlands National Park

This striking South Dakota landscape boasts a maze of buttes, canyons, pinnacles and spires. Skeletons of three-toed horses and saber-toothed cats are among the many fossilized species found here. Wildlife abounds in the park’s 244,000 acres and can often be seen while hiking, camping and traveling the Badlands Loop Scenic Byway.

badlands national park
Badlands
Great 8
Mount Rushmore National Memorial

America's Shrine of Democracy, Mount Rushmore National Memorial features the 60-foot faces of four great American presidents who represent the birth, growth, development and preservation of this country. 

Mount Rushmore
Mount Rushmore
Great 8
Jewel Cave National Monument

The third-longest cave in the world features a variety of tours below the surface and a 1,279-acre park with nature trails above ground.

Jewel Cave Interior
Jewel Cave
Great 8
Custer State Park

Few truly wild places remain in this country. Custer State Park is one of them. Nearly 1,300 bison wander the park’s 71,000 acres, which they share with pronghorn antelope, elk, mountain goats and a band of burros.

Needles Highway
Custer State Park
Great 8
Historic Deadwood

Walk in the footsteps of historic Old West legends like Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane and Seth Bullock. This 1870s gold rush town became a National Historic Landmark in 1961. Today, it teems with Black Hills entertainment and things to do including concerts, casinos, museums, historic sites, spas and parades.

Deadwood
Deadwood reanactors
Great 8
Missouri River

History and adventure abound along and on the waters of the Mighty Mo’. Free-flowing sections and four reservoirs — Lake Oahe, Lake Sharpe, Lake Francis Case and Lewis & Clark Lake — are prime for fishing, boating and water recreation.

Missouri River Fishing
Pierre Missouri River
Great 8
Wind Cave National Park

The first cave to be designated a national park, Wind Cave National Park features the world's largest concentration of rare boxwork formations along with 33,851 acres of forest and prairie on the surface, creating a sanctuary for wildlife.

Wind Cave National Park
Wind Cave
Great 8
Crazy Horse Memorial

Korczak Ziolkowski began work on Crazy Horse Memorial in 1948. Once complete, this tribute to the Lakota leader will be the largest mountain carving in South Dakota, and the world. The on-site Indian Museum of North America and the Native American Educational & Cultural Center also provide opportunities to learn and explore.

Crazy Horse Memorial
Crazy Horse
Badlands
Badlands icon
Mount Rushmore
Mount Rushmore icon
Jewel Cave
Jewel Cave icon
Custer State Park
Custer State Park icon
Deadwood reanactors
Deadwood icon
Pierre Missouri River
Missouri River icon
Wind Cave
Wind Cave icon
Crazy Horse
Crazy Horse Icon
Trip Planning Resources
Illustrated image of three bison grazing in Custer State Park. The Needles rock formation is visible in the background.
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Feeding a burro
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