In honor of National Native American Heritage Month, we’re pleased to share our ongoing work with the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation (CHMF) in South Dakota. Crazy Horse Memorial® is a Monument dedicated to protecting and preserving North American Indian culture. When finished, the Mountain Carving will be the largest of its kind in the world. But the sculpture is the smallest part of the mission.
This monumental project reflects our commitment to our belief in putting people first, or, to borrow from the mantra of Crazy Horse Memorial®, “make a friend first.” Our Master Plan process highlights our ongoing support of CHMF’s mission to protect and preserve the cultures, traditions, and living heritage of the North American Indians through collaborative planning and design.
History Comes to Life
The Memorial commemorates Tasunke Witco, the Oglala Lakota leader whose skill and bravery in protecting his people’s homeland made him a revered figure throughout Indigenous nations. When Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear partnered with sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski to begin this project in 1948, their vision was to create a monument in the Black Hills that would celebrate Native American heritage with the same scale and significance as the nearby presidential sculptures. The Memorial represents unity, mutual understanding, and the importance of preserving Indigenous heritage for future generations. The complex includes Museums and educational facilities that teach Native American history while supporting contemporary Indigenous communities through scholarships and cultural programs. Standing Bear hoped the project would help heal divisions and build deeper appreciation between Native and non-Native people.
A Vision for the Future
CHMF has prepared a Facilities Master Plan to provide a strategic framework for developing and managing the physical infrastructure of the 1,200-acre Crazy Horse Memorial® campus. Led by Mead & Hunt, this multi-phase project outlines a comprehensive vision to ensure that the Crazy Horse Memorial® facilities—the Mountain, Museum, and University—align with the goals set forth by the CHMF’s Strategic Plan. The initiatives in the Facilities Master Plan serve as a roadmap for the near-term (10-year) and long-term growth and development of the Memorials’ physical infrastructure. This will help establish a lasting foundation where the Mountain Carving, cultural education, and Indigenous heritage converge to fulfill Standing Bear’s vision of unity and understanding.
Building a Vision Worthy of the Mission
Creating a master plan for a site as culturally significant as Crazy Horse Memorial® required technical expertise but also listening, careful consideration, and a commitment to honoring the Memorial’s founding vision. Our approach unfolded in three phases.
The journey began with understanding the physical structures and the human stories that gave the Memorial meaning. The team spent time with the Foundation’s Board, staff, and family through visioning sessions and strategic discussions. They documented every building, pathway, and space on the 1,200-acre campus, studying how visitors currently move through and experience the site. Researching other significant monuments and cultural destinations, the team gathered insights into what makes a memorial connect with guests. This phase focused on asking meaningful questions and understanding the Memorial’s current operation.
Next, the exploration phase tested ideas, challenged assumptions, and imagined what was possible. How could the campus design reflect Indigenous values and aesthetics? What if visitor pathways told a more intentional story? Through brainstorming and concept development, the team pushed beyond the boundaries of conventional thinking while establishing clear design principles to guide decision-making. This creative phase involved thorough exploration before committing to a direction.
Finally, the development phase put exploration into action. The team identified the strongest concepts, refined them with detailed renderings, and created a practical timeline for implementation in five-year increments. Cost projections supported financial sustainability, while the Facilities Master Plan offered the Board, family, and public a vision of what the campus would become. The result is a roadmap ensuring that the Memorial’s physical spaces would evolve in ways that honor Standing Bear’s original vision while serving future visitors who come to learn and connect with the region’s cultural history.
Looking to the Future
“I made the right decision. I have no regrets. I knew (in 1947) I couldn’t finish it. This project is for the future.”
– Korczak Ziolkowski, 1982.
As we celebrate Native American Heritage Month, we’re honored to participate in this significant project. The completed Facility Master Plan will guide Crazy Horse Memorial® into its next century of operation. More importantly, it will allow CHMF to enhance how visitors experience and understand the cultures and living traditions of the North American Indian for generations to come.
