+ Fascinating memorial. The Lakota Sioux present that, besides neighboring Mt Rushmore commemorating US American heros, the Native Americans had heroes too. . It's just unfortunate that because they reject US gov't funding, construction continues to proceed very slowly. - Disappointed to discover we can't get any closer to the monument than the visitor center without taking a bus tour (extra $5). That means no solo driving up there, no hiking. Thus, not quite worth the obligatory $15 fee just to enter the visitor center grounds. + Pleasant ambience. + Still a nice viewing balcony right behind the visitor center museum. + Ample parking. + Located near many other exciting tourist attractions of the Black Hills, including Mt Rushmore, Custer State Park, and Needles Hwy. read more

Crazy Horse Memorial - I think I could hear them working on this monument from the parking lot. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Crazy Horse, South Dakota

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If you have any interest it will be a 2 hour or more visit. We are mobility disabled and just for simplicity skipped the bus ride for a closer look. The view from the many places on the land it is visible from is wonderful. There are 3 museums on site all included plus a restaurant. The restaurant is a short simple menu, we had bison stew which was excellent and fry bread with a wonderful berry sauce called Wai Po. The view from the huge windows there is amazing. Yes, progress is slow but that makes it all the more special. Since a friend went a few years ago and saw only the face, they have completed the top part of his arm and pointing hand. The story of it's conception and the original artist is really inspiring. What physical and emotional commitment! And now his son is carrying on working with the tribes to help complete it. The home he built and many of his family's possessions are one of the small museums. Another had much history of the area tribes including portraits of the few survivors of Wounded Knee massacre. There there is the workshop. All in all a lot for $30 a car these days. A beautiful and for us a spiritual journey read more

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We were charged $30 for entrance, no senior discounts, but the fees go towards helping them complete the memorial If you want to take the bus up closer to the monument, it's five dollars per person and takes about 25 minutes Park at the visitor center as that is where the memorabilia, museum and movie about the sculptor is located. There are two viewing points of the monument, one is internal, and the other one is outside in between the museum and the water restaurant. They also had Lakota native American people in formal dress and you could get photos with them There's really a lot to see you so give yourself some time read more

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Very impressive monument. No real definite timeline for completion. We took a tour with a local guide who explained that the outstretched arm should be done in a couple of years. Our tour took us into the actual monument site at ground level. And we got some neat pics. But we have seen pics of the place from years ago and it does not seem to have advanced much to completion. The museums are interesting a lot of indigenous people history and souvenirs. The restaurants were pedestrian and not really worth a stop but we pre-paid for a meal with our tour so had a bite. Not much of a selection. Grab a meal before you go if you can. It is worth a stop. Mark & Nancy. read more

Crazy Horse Memorial - Crazy horse from the patio at the museum. Note the crane. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Crazy Horse, South Dakota

Worth the admission fee. Ask for a return voucher if you don't finish it in one visit. Resident Oglala Lakota artist was interesting. The Bell family Hoop Dancers were amazing. And the other speakers and artists were informative and interesting, too. Enjoy! read more

Crazy Horse Memorial - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Crazy Horse, South Dakota

We came here since in the area for Rushmore. I thought it would be more. You are pretty far from the sculpture and see it from the side. It's also kind of expensive. The visitor center is nice but not much to see with the sculpture. It's also years if not decades away from completion. read more

Rip Off! $12 a person and you can't even get to the sight unless you pay another $5 a person. You can see what you want to see from the road - stop and take a picture and save your time and money. In addition, it's a scam, because the carving has barely changed in 40 years. This will never be a finished product. Don't waste your money at this private site. read more

Crazy Horse Memorial - Crazy Horse - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Crazy Horse, South Dakota

Crazy Horse Memorial was honestly one of the most impressive stops of our entire South Dakota road trip. Pictures really do not prepare you for how massive this mountain carving actually is in person. The scale is unbelievable, and learning that it has been actively worked on since 1948 makes it even more fascinating. What surprised me most was how much there is to do besides just looking at the mountain. The museums, cultural exhibits, artwork, and history throughout the memorial made the experience feel much deeper and more meaningful. You can tell there is a huge focus on honoring Native American culture and preserving history, which made the visit feel educational as well as visually incredible. We also highly recommend doing the bus tour to get closer to the carving because it really helps you understand the size and detail of the project. The views from the property are beautiful, and there are so many great photo opportunities everywhere you look. If you are visiting the Black Hills or heading to Mount Rushmore, this is absolutely worth adding to your itinerary. It ended up being one of the most memorable places we visited in South Dakota, and I would definitely go back again. Check out our videos on our socials @reessroots read more

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I had mixed emotions about the Crazy Horse Memorial because it is no where ready to be experienced because they have been working on it since the late 40's. I then educated myself on the reason why. Funding, set backs, the care and respect that is being given to the mountain, proper creative process and not accepting government funding all are respectful factors. This changed my whole perspective. We need to support this memorial. It will truly be an amazing memorial when it is finished. read more

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Crazy horse memorial beat sight, there is an entrance fee and then if you want to get closer there is another 5$ fee to ride the bus down near memorial read more

Crazy Horse Memorial - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Crazy Horse, South Dakota

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"Shine on, you crazy diamond" (Pink Floyd) Q: With no government funding, how long does it take to carve a mountain into a statue of an Indian leader on his horse? A: Probably 100 years or so. That's right, because the Crazy Horse Memorial was started in 1948 and is far from completion. The memorial was started by sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski at the request of Lakota elder Henry Standing Bear, who wanted to honor the legacy of the Oglala Lakota warrior Crazy Horse. Located in the Black Hills of South Dakota, the first blast on Thunderhead Mountain marked the official start of what will be one of the most ambitious mountain carvings in history. Despite being under construction for over 75 years, the memorial remains unfinished. It is entirely funded through private donations and admission fees, with no government funding accepted--a factor that has contributed to its slow progress. The completed sculpture is planned to be 641 feet long and 563 feet high, making it the largest mountain carving in the world once finished. One interesting thing we learned during our visit was unlike Mount Rushmore, visitors are encouraged to take home rock fragment survivors of the blasting! The granite rocks laying on the ground are pink and gray with fine quartz fragments that create a shiny speckled appearance, like twinkling stars. Of course, we scooped up a few of the rocks for some undetermined future purpose. The memorial was designed to honor the living heritage of the North American Indians. The Indian Museum of North America and The Native American Educational and Cultural Center complement the massive, but unfinished, statue. When our bus pulled up into the complex and we caught our first glimpse of Crazy Horse's massive head, it was quite a thrill. There was a big construction crane up there, evidence of the continuing effort to carve away the mountain into the statue. So, who was Crazy Horse? He was a legendary Lakota war leader known for his fierce resistance to U.S. expansion into Native American lands. He played a pivotal role in the Battle of the Little Bighorn, where he helped defeat General Custer's forces. Revered for his bravery and spiritual vision, Crazy Horse was fatally wounded in 1877 when he was stabbed in the back with an Army bayonet after surrendering. This immortalized him as he became a symbol of Native American resilience and defiance. read more

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This was a happy little accident and I'm so glad I made a split second decision to go off course from my plan. I was on my way to Mount Rushmore and saw the entrance and pulled over into the turning lane and turned in. They're not part of NPS so it costs $10 I think to get in? I don't remember but it was very reasonable, and I parked and went inside the museum. They had a jeweler there named Derek Ashley and I ended up buying over $200 worth of his crystal jewelry, it's fantastic. You get to also walk into the shop of the sculptor and I paid a donation to buy a rock and bring it home with me. Overall a very cool and educational experience, I can't wait to watch the progress of this memorial over the years. read more

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Great experience at the Crazy Horse Memorial! $12 per person to get in and then $5 per person if you choose to take the bus ride - so $34 for my husband and I to have an amazing afternoon of getting educated about this incredible undertaking. We truly enjoyed watching thorough videos of the history of the artist and his agreements with the Lakota tribe to make this dream a reality. There are so many spaces to explore, and we even were able to take home a rock from some of the mountain for our grandson. The memorial is breathtaking, even though they haven't completed the project yet. It's an absolute Marvel to behold. 5-star experience ! read more

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Had a wonderful day visiting Crazy Horse Memorial. They charge $ 15.00 a person to enter. Then hand you a red ticket that you turn in once you enter the visitor center/ museum. Parking was easy and near by. The museum building is beautiful. Many items from the personal home of the sculpture and tons of Native Americans artifacts. They have a Resturant, gift shop and stage area outside area where we watched a music performance. A $ 5.00 bus ride takes you near by the Crazy horse Monument, however we did not take it. It's an amazing memorial honoring the Native Americans and a must see. read more

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This enormous monument was started in 1948 & it's still being worked on. The center was created to honor the native Americans of North America. We took the bus again to the base of Crazy Horse. We admired the enormous gift shops, Native American University of North America, hospital, sculptors studio, Indian Cultural Center, Laughing Water Restaurant, observation patio, Native American Museum of North America ... enjoying the movie & information presented. There was so much to see & do and see that we could have spent days here. This mountain monument is under construction on privately held land in the Black Hills, in Custer County, South Dakota. It will depict the Oglala Lakota warrior Crazy Horse, riding a horse & pointing to his tribal land. The memorial was commissioned by Henry Standing Bear, a Lakota elder, to be sculpted by Korczak Ziolkowski. It has been operated by the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation, a nonprofit organization. Ziolkowski's 7 children, and many grandchildren are still working on the monument and grounds here. read more

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This is a great monument to visit that is still in progress. Make sure to first watch the short documentary on the history of the memorial in the welcome center/museum theater for background. Prices are kind of steep but this massive undertaking is 100% funded by visitors. We will definitely be back to see the progress in the next few years. read more

Crazy Horse Memorial - Crazy Horse Memorial - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Crazy Horse, South Dakota

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$5.00 for a bus ride to the monument, $15 per person to enter for the experience of the movie, museum, cabin, and workshop. .25 cents for ise of viewing binoculars. I would suggest the bus ride it was informative and good photo op. Much more work to be done here on the monument. Be aware there are no hikes to the monument tours only, except for 5k in June and September ( sounds like June hets more participation 100,000). read more

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Awesome experience! I remember hearing about the construction of the Crazy Horse Memorial as a young boy. It was very interesting to see it in person during our trip to the Rapid City Area. The memorial or monument is a sight to behold! We really enjoyed learning about Crazy Horse and the other Indians in the area. Such a great experience to see and visit! Highly recommend!! read more

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The Crazy Horse memorial itself is quite impressive and having been here 20 years ago, it's fun to watch the progress of what will eventually be the largest stone sculpture in the world. The story behind the project and the nice film that's been put together really had some of the whole effort. What's really impressive is the Museum that's been put in a place with artifacts, stories, and rich traditions of the Native American people. This project is not receiving any federal or state funding, which helps make the entry fee understandable. The latest edition to the overall project that includes the Native American high education center is a wonderful endeavor. This is definitely a must stop when you're in the Black Hills area, not just to see the memorial but to gain Native American perspective. read more

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We RV'd here over spring break and we had a great time! I am glad you can see the statue from the parking lot as we wanted to take lots of pictures without the glare of the building glass inside. We had a great time and were so appreciative of the volunteers and their time to talk to us about this awesome monument. Also we brought our RV and there is plenty of parking, no issues! read more

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Sure is amazing to see the larger than life crazy horse memorial being built. The best views are from further away. We arrived closer to the evening and the clouds were rolling in quick. The entry fee is pretty steep but I'm glad I got to visit. read more

Crazy Horse Memorial - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Crazy Horse, South Dakota

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Crazy Horse Memorial is a must if you're traveling around South Dakota. There is so much history in this area and what better place to learn than here. Native American History is vast and when my boyfriend and I were planning a short trip to South Dakota I knew we needed to stop here. I've heard stories about it but not much from where I grew up in Honolulu. As we hiked our way through Black Elk Peak and decided to sight see the next day it was the perfect time to visit. As you drive in what they've carved out of stone so far is magnificent. When I learned that funding is entirely by donation I can see why it has taken some time to carve. Luckily, technology has advanced and I'm sure they have more tools and equipment which help with the planning and executing of this monument. Parking was easy to find and we both thought the entrance fee was reasonable. They have a nice area to tour and learn a bit of History of the Native American people from this area. We happened to get there when there was a one of the descendants singing and playing a traditional instrument. We spent a few minutes there before exploring the different areas. Before we left we stopped at the giftshop which was quite large. I picked up a couple of things and we made sure to take a photo together before we left. Thinking back on it now, I'm so glad we made sure to stop here. I'm still in awe of the work that has gone into making this monument, the history, and the many people that make this what it is. I'm thankful we had the chance to see it! read more

I figured if I was going to travel all the way to South Dakota, I would definitely make the stop at Crazy Horse. Unfortunately, the afternoon we arrived there was a lightning storm in progress, so they would not allow the bus to run closer to the base of the monument. Not their fault, but it was disappointing so that's why I took away a star. The interior of the center is super informative, and definitely worth the visit. There are lots of art pieces on the grounds around the visitor center, so be sure to walk around and check them out. read more

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We stopped by Crazy Horse on the way to Mt. Rushmore. They give you military discount, which saved us quite a bit....$35 to be exact. That's how much it costs you to get in with 2 people. Then it is another $5 per person to get on a school bus that takes you closer to the site. The bus is super dirty with dust, gets filled up so I suggest you get on the bus 10-15min ahead of schedule. While people are nice here, I am not sure if I would pay over $20 to visit here. Oh by the way, if you wanna see really up close, you can donate minimum $120 for a tour. read more

The movie and museum are excellent. I felt a little taken advantage of, in that we paid $24 for 2 adults, only to se the movie and museum: it's another $5 each to take the bus out to actually SEE Crazy Horse mountain. read more

The staff needs to go back and get customer service training. The lady at the front taking money to enter was rude, the guy directing traffic to park was rude and snarky as he kept trying to make me park further although yet I told him I'm handicap and wanted to park up front (he said something like you don't have your plaque up however you aren't suppose to drive with it in the window) - the cashier in the gift shop was not helpful . . . The guy selling tickets and the tour driver were the only people who acted like they didn't have a stick up their butt. The driver was giving some details about the monument however it was hard to hear at the back of the bus. You literally ride up a little bit to a clearing, get off the bus to take a picture and then come back. It felt like herding cattle. The idea that you pay per person to get on the property and then pay to get up close to the unfinished monument that isn't even owned by the indigenous people and then told "hey for more money you can go up to the monument" just felt like the biggest tourist trap of this trip. read more

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There is a lot to see here! There's several museums with cool exhibits and displays with quick blurbs describing things and providing history. There's lots of beautiful Native American pictures and artwork as well, and for $5 per person you can take a bus tour where they take you closer to the monument. We might have even considered the bus ride up to the top of the monument too if we had known that was an option. The monument is very impressive and it's cool to see its progress over time. It's even bigger than Mt Rushmore, and it's not even done yet! read more

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Beyond awful! The lady at the ticket booth had no personality. The lady collecting the tickets is overwhelmed and arrogant. They have been building this thing for 78 years and are not even 1/4 finished. You do not be to see the front of his face. On the day I was there they were not running any busses. Then I find out the bus to get a smidgen closer is $5 and if you want to get a bit closer you can pay $125 but you never get to see a frontal of the face! A complete ripoff when they charged us $35 to get to see this from a so called viewing deck that is probably 1/3 mile away and you only see a profile! read more

The Crazy Horse Memorial is equal parts humbling and inspiring. As a history buff, seeing this massive work-in-progress honoring Native American heritage is powerful--it's a living monument that tells a story still being carved in stone. As a photographer, it's jaw-dropping: the sheer scale against the Black Hills backdrop makes every shot epic, whether you're zooming in on the carved face or capturing the monument in the wide landscape. Don't skip the museum--it adds depth to the visit and context to your photos. This is history in the making, and a photographer's dream to witness. read more

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I am truly inspired and have a lot of respect for the family fulfilling this statue and the purpose of the statue. There is so much history, memorabilia, etc. inside the museum and it is amazing to see, highly recommend the video on the history of the memorial. If you want to see and read everything, easily 2 hours can be spent here. For $5 more, you can take a bus ride closer to the top, and for over $100 you can get right up next to it. Otherwise it is $30/car to get in. We think it was worth the price! read more

Worth the drive. More than a monument, Crazy Horse stands as a symbol of Native American heritage, resilience, and identity. Unlike Mount Rushmore, this work is funded privately and guided by a mission to honor Indigenous peoples. Visiting it is a humbling experience--less about flashy tourism and more about deep respect and historical reflection. read more

Crazy Horse Memorial - The Crazy Horse Memorial - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Crazy Horse, South Dakota

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Not worth the cost... you pay $15 per person in the car to get in (when you probably have the best view driving by the memorial and they don't let you use your America the Beautiful pass since this place is privately owned). You would still have to pay $5 each for the bus to take you further up the dirt road to barely get a closer glimpse. We watched the half hour video on how the monument was made (and still not yet complete) and after our $30 donation, decided to cut our losses and move on to another activity. 2024 #47 read more

Crazy Horse Memorial - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Crazy Horse, South Dakota

Upon coming into the line this not a National Park so you can't use your pass. This is a really interesting place to visit. Lots of exhibits to look at. They have Indian dances outside at certain times. If you're in the gift shop you can observe from the coolness. If you want to go see Crazy Horse carvings you either take the $5 bus with really great views or take the van to the face of the carving for $125. Bus tour guide was very knowledgeable and this was the best option for m read more

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America is beautiful. Grateful to see this memorial monument honoring Native American Indian. Crazy Horse is amazing . Still in construction per Tom our guide. Go to the museum and theater to see learn the history. The place is clean and organized. OT IS A MUST SEE read more

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Absolutely love my adventure at Crazy Horse. My second time to visit this year. This time I went solo so I could browse around at my own pace. I bought some beautiful art work(that I had to ship home as couldn't bring on the plane), books(I love reading history books about my heritage), native handmade jewelry(expensive but so nice) and met some really nice people who work at the gift store. The ladies who work behind the counter are so nice and love to visit with the guests. I also took the $5 bus ride around the grounds of the Crazy Horse carving in the mountain. The bus driver/guide was super nice and gave us some more history of the area. She also was kind enough to take a few photos for me. After the bus ride I went and watched a 30 minute film inside the heritage center. So much to do! Lovely day spent in the Black Hills. Next year will come back for the 5k walk to the top of the Crazy Horse Mountain with my cousins in June 2025. read more

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I highly recommend Crazy Horse Memorial. The views are amazing and the museum has so much to offer. Great Native American artifacts. We also watched some native American dance performances. The food at the restaurant was good. Great gift shop as well. I recommend raking the van trip to the top. It's $125 but well worth it. You get to go right up to the memorial. This is a must if you are in the area and it worth the drive if not in the area. read more

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Popped in expecting to be there for 10-15 minutes and i was totally blown away. I ended up here for 2.5-3 hours!! I never rode up to the memorial itself because i was enamored with the Native Museum. There were so many cool artifacts and photos that literally captivated me. The short movie was enough to tear up, so much info and passion in that shirt video. I lived walking through the museum and seeing things i never knew existed like bellybutton bags, and peyote fans. This was some of the best $15 ive ever spent. I just wish i could walk up to the memorial without extra forced cost. $200+ is too rich for my blood. Everyone interested in native history and preservation should visit!! read more

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This monument will be absolutely gorgeous when completed. The monument is funded by donations only; therefore, it will be years before it's completed. That being said, it is still worth the visit. read more

Crazy Horse Memorial - Crazy Horse Memorial as of June 2025 - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Crazy Horse, South Dakota

I support Native Americans (I'm Chippewa), last time we visited we didn't pay for parking, we paid if we wanted to go into the visitor center, this visit they wanted $30 for 2 people BEFORE you get into the parking lot, on their website it says there's no parking fee.. We did not want to pay the $30 and we were told to make a u-turn and exit. read more

Crazy Horse Memorial - Their website says no parking fee, however, we were required to pay $30 to continue down the road to the parking lot. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Crazy Horse, South Dakota

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son and i were only able to visit for 2 hours becoz it was almost closing time. we were able to do the short bus tour before going into the museum and gift shop. experience was grand and emotional. i hope alot more help will come in finishing the memorial. please find time in watching the short videos they have in the theater room when u come visit the museum read more