Ruth Ziolkowski, a name synonymous with unwavering dedication and monumental ambition, passed away on May 21, 2014, at the age of 87, following a prolonged battle with cancer. Her life’s narrative is inextricably linked to the colossal Crazy Horse Memorial, a mountain carving project in the Black Hills of South Dakota that she tirelessly championed alongside, and later in succession to, her husband, the Polish-American sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski. Her passing marked the end of an era for the project, but her legacy of perseverance continues to inspire those dedicated to seeing the monument’s completion.
The genesis of this ambitious undertaking traces back to the 1930s, when Korczak Ziolkowski, a sculptor who had contributed to the final stages of Mount Rushmore’s construction, was contacted by Sioux leader Henry Standing Bear. Dissatisfied with the representation of Native Americans in existing monuments, Standing Bear expressed a desire for a memorial that would honor the heritage and heroes of his people. "My fellow chiefs and I would like the white man to know the red man has great heroes too," Standing Bear declared, igniting a spark in Korczak that would define the rest of his life.
Inspired by this plea, Korczak envisioned a sculpture of Crazy Horse, the legendary Oglala Lakota war chief who played a pivotal role in the Native American victory at the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876. Crazy Horse, depicted astride his steed and pointing towards his ancestral lands, would serve as a powerful symbol of Native American pride and resilience.
Korczak acquired a mountain, located approximately 17 miles from Mount Rushmore, from the federal government and commenced construction on the Crazy Horse Memorial in 1948. This marked the beginning of a decades-long endeavor fraught with challenges, both financial and logistical.
When Korczak Ziolkowski died in 1982, after 34 years of dedicated work, the Crazy Horse Memorial project faced an uncertain future. Despite the removal of vast quantities of rock, the mountain bore little resemblance to the envisioned warrior on horseback. The sheer scale of the project, coupled with the immense technical difficulties, could have easily led to its abandonment.
However, Ruth Ziolkowski, a woman of extraordinary strength and vision, stepped forward to ensure the continuation of her husband’s dream. Assuming leadership of the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation, Ruth embarked on a mission to not only preserve Korczak’s legacy but also to accelerate the progress of the monument’s construction.
With the assistance of several of her ten children and the support of the charitable foundation, Ruth implemented strategic changes that revitalized the project. Her dedication and determination breathed new life into the undertaking, transforming it from a seemingly insurmountable challenge into a tangible reality.
One of Ruth’s most crucial decisions was to prioritize the completion of Crazy Horse’s face. While Korczak had initially intended to sculpt the horse first, Ruth recognized that focusing on the rider’s visage would serve as a powerful fundraising tool, attracting greater public attention and financial support.
The face, measuring an impressive 87 feet 6 inches high, was completed in 1998, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the project’s commencement. This milestone marked a significant turning point, demonstrating the feasibility of Korczak’s vision and inspiring renewed confidence in the memorial’s eventual completion. Visitors could now begin to truly envision the final sculpture.
Following the completion of the face, work commenced on the horse’s head, an even more ambitious undertaking standing at 220 feet high. This phase presented a new set of challenges, requiring meticulous planning and innovative engineering solutions. Ruth, ever the pragmatist, emphasized the importance of careful measurement and calculation, urging her team to "Go slowly so you do it right."
Ruth Carolyn Ziolkowski was born on June 26, 1926, in West Hartford, Connecticut. Her connection to Korczak Ziolkowski began in her youth, when she was just 13 years old. She assisted him on a local project to create a statue of Noah Webster, the creator of Webster’s Dictionary. Six years later, she would join Korczak in the Black Hills, eventually marrying him in 1950.
Ruth’s role in the Crazy Horse Memorial extended far beyond that of a supportive spouse. She was actively involved in every aspect of the project, from managing the visitor center and handling media inquiries to overseeing the financial operations and ordering essential equipment. She also managed a dairy farm and timber mill to help finance the project in its early years, as Korczak refused any federal funding.
Her contributions were integral to the project’s success, and she worked alongside her husband in drawing up three books of comprehensive plans and measurements for the sculpture. This preparation would become invaluable when she inherited the project.
Ruth’s leadership style was characterized by a blend of practicality and unwavering optimism. She set ambitious targets, inspired her team to achieve them, and welcomed more than a million visitors a year to witness the progress firsthand. Her passion for the project was infectious, and she instilled a sense of shared purpose in everyone involved.
Despite the monumental scale of the undertaking, Ruth remained grounded in the belief that the Crazy Horse Memorial was more than just a sculpture; it was a symbol of hope, healing, and cultural understanding. She often spoke of Korczak’s desire to "give back some pride" to Native Americans through the carving, emphasizing the importance of preserving their heritage and honoring their contributions to American history.
Ruth received numerous accolades for her dedication to the Crazy Horse Memorial. The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology presented her with an honorary degree and later honored the entire Ziolkowski family with an outstanding public service award. The Crazy Horse area celebrates "Korczak Day" every year on May 3rd, marking the anniversary of his arrival in the Black Hills.
Even as she faced the challenges of age and illness, Ruth remained steadfast in her commitment to the Crazy Horse Memorial. She expressed a longing to "live more years than possible" so that she could witness the completion of her husband’s vision. While she did not live to see the finished sculpture, her legacy will endure through the generations of artisans, engineers, and supporters who continue to work towards its realization.
Ruth Ziolkowski, co-creator of the Crazy Horse monument, leaves behind a remarkable legacy of perseverance, dedication, and cultural understanding. Her contributions to the Crazy Horse Memorial are immeasurable, and her spirit will continue to inspire all those who strive to achieve the seemingly impossible.
The Crazy Horse Memorial remains a work in progress, a testament to the enduring power of human vision and the unwavering dedication of those who dare to dream big. The monument stands as a symbol of respect for Native American culture and a reminder of the importance of preserving history for future generations. Ruth Ziolkowski’s commitment to this vision will forever be remembered.
The question of when the Crazy Horse Memorial will be completed remains open. Ruth Ziolkowski herself acknowledged the many unknowns involved, estimating that the carving of the horse’s head alone could take decades and cost more than the total spent on the project’s first half-century.
Ruth Ziolkowski’s passing marks the end of an era, but the legacy of the Crazy Horse Memorial will continue to inspire generations to come. She is survived by nine of her ten children, twenty-three grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren.