On June 24th we left Yellowstone via the east entrance, transited Cody WY and proceeded to climb several thousand feet to the Bighorn campsites.
The drive was a journey back in time complete with signposts indicating the name and age of the exposed strata along the road.
We continued on to Custer WY which is a fascinating area.
We were lucky enough to visit the Crazy Horse Memorial when they were celebrating the 87th birthday of Ruth Ziolkowski, the wife of the Korczak Ziolkowski, the sculptor and moving force in the creation of this Memorial. The story of the beginning of this project and Korczak's efforts is mythic and inspiring.
I can't say enough about this effort. Crazy Horse is a hero not only because of his skill in battle, but also because of his character and his loyalty to his people. He is remembered for how he cared for the elderly, the ill, the widowed and the children. His dedication to his personal vision caused him to devote his life to serving his people and to preserving their valued culture.
The Crazy Horse Memorial includes The Indian Museum of North America and a growing Native American Educational & Cultural Center that will eventually be part of a larger Campus.
Korczak depicted Crazy Horse with his left hand pointing in answer to the derisive question asked by a white man, “Where are your lands now?” Crazy Horse replied, “My lands are where my dead lie buried.”
I highly recommend a visit to this wonderful & historic landmark.
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