Today we visited the native american version of Mount Rushmore.

The cliff face you saw will one day have a rendition of Crazy Horse and his steed dashing across the skyline.

When we were here 10 + years ago, the carving was not much more complete than you see here.
The finished article is unlikely to be available to see in our lifetimes.

The image which will always now be known as that of Crazy Horse is extremely speculative, no photos are conclusively him, so an amount of this likeness are taken from spoken word, he had a big nose, he had funny hair.

Our guide Gary, a Lakota tribesman, born on a reservation, and later schooled off reservation, has a unique insight into the culture of the native and the impression the white man has of him.

The museum is home to in excess of 11,000 artifacts including photographs and jewellery. ( No, I didn't buy any! )

We enjoyed the static exhibits, and a short film about the sculptor and his unique relationship with Chief Henry Standing Bear. The Chief realised that the future of his nation lay in education and understanding, he commissioned the undertaking insisting only that it be situated in the Black Hills.
The first blasting took place in 1948, and the face unveilled in 1998 long after Koreczak Ziolkowski, the sculptor had passed away.

Koreczak Ziolkowski, a self taught award winning sculptor, decided to accept the commission. Later he was assisted by a young woman named Ruth who later became his wife and they went on to have 10 children, all of his sons became involved with the carving and excavation, his daughters assisting their mother in the early visitors and domestic goings on.

The museum fills the original cabin built by Koreczak Ziolkowski and his family, over the years many additions were made, adding a rudimentary visitors centre.

This is the intended final appearance of the piece.. The face of Crazy Horse stands at 87.5ft tall.

We drove back via Custer State Park, we quickly realised we had driven its beautiful roads before.

A second evening at the Buglin Bull Restaurant and sports bar, we sit at the bar waiting for our usual booth to be free.

Tomorrow we head off on further adventures, goodnight dear reader. xx