<P> Henry Standing Bear ( `` Mato Naji '' ) , an Oglala Lakota chief , and well - known statesman and elder in the Native American community , recruited and commissioned Polish - American sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski to build the Crazy Horse Memorial in the Black Hills of South Dakota . In October 1931 , Luther Standing Bear , Henry 's older brother , wrote sculptor Gutzon Borglum , who was carving the heads of four American presidents at Mount Rushmore . Luther suggested that it would be `` most fitting to have the face of Crazy Horse sculpted there . Crazy Horse is the real patriot of the Sioux tribe and the only one worthy to place by the side of Washington and Lincoln . '' Borglum never replied . Thereafter , Henry Standing Bear began a campaign to have Borglum carve an image of Crazy Horse on Mt . Rushmore . In summer of 1935 , Standing Bear , frustrated over the stalled Crazy Horse project , wrote to James H. Cook , a long time friend of Chief Red Cloud 's `` I am struggling hopelessly with this because I am without funds , no employment and no assistance from any Indian or White . '' </P>
<P> Henry Standing Bear ( `` Mato Naji '' ) , an Oglala Lakota chief , and well - known statesman and elder in the Native American community , recruited and commissioned Polish - American sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski to build the Crazy Horse Memorial in the Black Hills of South Dakota . In October 1931 , Luther Standing Bear , Henry 's older brother , wrote sculptor Gutzon Borglum , who was carving the heads of four American presidents at Mount Rushmore . Luther suggested that it would be `` most fitting to have the face of Crazy Horse sculpted there . Crazy Horse is the real patriot of the Sioux tribe and the only one worthy to place by the side of Washington and Lincoln . '' Borglum never replied . Thereafter , Henry Standing Bear began a campaign to have Borglum carve an image of Crazy Horse on Mt . Rushmore . In summer of 1935 , Standing Bear , frustrated over the stalled Crazy Horse project , wrote to James H. Cook , a long time friend of Chief Red Cloud 's `` I am struggling hopelessly with this because I am without funds , no employment and no assistance from any Indian or White . '' </P>
when did the crazy horse memorial project began
when did the crazy horse memorial project began
October 1931
October 1931