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

Legends in Stone

The Lakota creation story begins in the Black Hills, and more than 60,000 Lakota people live in South Dakota today. Join us as we venture to the heart of the Black Hills to chat with Lakota artists and visit a place with deep spiritual meaning: Crazy Horse Memorial®. 

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In this episode, host Brian Thacker takes us into the construction zone at Crazy Horse Memorial®, the world’s largest mountain carving in progress. There he meets Caleb and Vaughn Ziolkowski, grandsons of the monument’s creator. We also hear personal stories from members of the Lakota nation: Paul LaRoche, founder of the band Brulé, and Joe Pulliam of Seven Council Fires Native Art, who share how they're using art to preserve their culture.

available on Spotify, Apple and Amazon

 
You run into people from all over the world here. It’s almost like there’s a spiritual calling. They don’t know quite what it is, but they feel it.
Paul LaRoche, musician and member of the Lakota Nation
Featured Locations
Crazy Horse Memorial in Crazy Horse, South Dakota
Crazy Horse Memorial®

The son of a medicine man, Crazy Horse was a Lakota war leader most famous for his role in the Battle of Little Bighorn, where he led a band of warriors to victory. At the request of Chief Henry Standing Bear, Crazy Horse Memorial® was commissioned to honor the Lakota leader. More than a million people from around the world visit the sculpture each year and learn about Native culture at the on-site museum and educational center.

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Custer State Park
Custer State Park

Towering granite spires, sparkling mountain waters and lush forests make up Custer State Park, home of the Annual Buffalo Roundup and Arts Festival. A sanctuary for those who cherish nature, tranquility and adventure, the park offers myriad opportunities to explore its wide-open spaces, from hiking, biking and rock climbing to camping, kayaking and driving the Wildlife Loop Scenic Byway.

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A cowboy wields a bullwhip to make a sound that moves bison during the Buffalo Roundup in Custer

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Volksmarch at Crazy Horse Memorial
Experience the Crazy Horse Volksmarch

Want to get an immersive look at the world’s largest mountain carving in progress? Join the Crazy Horse Volksmarch, a bi-annual walk that follows dirt trails and work roads to the arm of the monument — culminating in a dramatic view of Crazy Horse's nine-story-tall face. With up to 15,000 participants making the trek, the Crazy Horse Volksmarch is one of the most popular organized walks in the U.S.

 

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#HiFromSD

See how others explored Crazy Horse Memorial® and use the hashtag #HiFromSD to share your South Dakota discoveries.

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Illustrated image of three bison grazing in Custer State Park. The Needles rock formation is visible in the background.
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