The Black Hills of South Dakota are a land of breathtaking beauty and fierce meaning, a region where two colossal monuments—Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial—stand as rival storytellers.

In terms of size, Mount Rushmore, just 17 miles away, has four 60-foot heads, all of which can fit inside the lone head of Crazy Horse. Crazy Horse died after being captured by enemy soldiers.

The Crazy Horse Memorial, located outside Custer, S.D, on U.S. Highways 16 and 385, is just 17 miles from Mount Rushmore and 35 miles from Rapid City, the nearest city with a commercial airport.

Unlike Rushmore, which was finished in 14 years (just six of those actually spent on carving), Crazy Horse remains a work in progress after more than six decades of work. "The face of Crazy Horse ...

The Crazy Horse monument in March 2012. When finished, it is expected to be 641 feet long and 563 feet high. It is the largest mountain carving in progress. Matthew Staver/Landov hide caption ...

CRAZY HORSE, S.D. – It was to be the largest sculpture in the world: a granite portrait of a Sioux leader on horseback whittled out of a mountain in the Black Hills here. In scale and complex… ...

Not far from Mount Rushmore, our Shrine to Democracy, is an unfinished sculpture of Crazy Horse, hero to the Lakota. “My fellow chiefs and I would like the white man to know the red man has ...

In terms of size, Mount Rushmore, just 17 miles away, has four 60-foot heads, all of which can fit inside the lone head of Crazy Horse. Crazy Horse died after being captured by enemy soldiers.

Lakota warrior Crazy Horse has long been a controversial figure, so perhaps it’s apropos that his memorial follow suit. 1 weather alerts 1 closings/delays. Watch Now.