Museum Guide

Crazy Horse Memorial and Military Veterans Since the first blast on the mountain on June 3, 1948 there has been a relationship between the Crazy Horse Memorial and military veterans and especially Native American veterans. First you would have to look at the personal history of one of the founders of the Memorial, Korczak Ziolkowski, a noted sculptor who worked on Mt Rushmore in 1939 and won first place at the Worlds Fair in 1939 for his sculpture of Paderewski. He volunteered at the age of 34 for the Army in 1943 and three days after D-Day landed on Omaha Beach Normandy where he was wounded. The military experience and sacrifices of so many had a profound effect on Korczak and to this day admission to the Memorial is waived for active duty military, Native Americans, Boy Scouts in uniform and local county residents. In 2000 Ruth Ziolkowski approved a new program to allow veterans of the local VA hospital in Hot Springs, SD to work at the Crazy Horse Memorial and Korczak’s Heritage through a compensatory work therapy program. It is a beneficial program for both the veterans and the Crazy Horse Memorial and Korczak’s Heritage and numerous veterans have participated in the program to present date. Another program that started in the local Custer, SD area occurred in 2011 with the new non-profit Operation Black Hills Cabin to say thank you to any 30% minimum Combat Injured veteran from any post-9/11 military operation and his immediate family for a one-week respite in a cabin in Custer free of charge. Crazy Horse Memorial and Korczak’s Heritage have offered waived admission, a meal at the Laughing Water Restaurant, and a bus to base tour to the average 17 families each summer. Since 2011 178 families from 37 states have been guests of the Operation Black Hills Cabin. Since 2015 Terry DeRouchey, also a military veteran, has collected van ride tickets donated by Storytellers each year to be able to take the veteran and his immediate family for a trip of a lifetime to the top of the mountain carving. Thanks to the generosity of Storytellers he has been able to take all combat injured veterans and their families as part of the Operation Black Hills Cabin to the top. Thanks to efforts of Visitor Services staff, groups from Wounded Warriors and Sheepdog Impact organizations had the opportunity to take a trip of a lifetime to the top of the mountain carving the last three years . The tribute to the accomplishments and sacrifices of Native American veterans came about in 2019 when a different Native American veteran was honored each week at Crazy Horse Memorial and where all veterans are recognized. American Indians per capita have had the highest percentage of their people in military service exceeding every American ethnic group. Make sure to visit us online too: https://crazyhorsememorial.org/

Since 1947, the Brownsville Historical Association has served the local community and created opportunities for every resident to learn about, participate with, and come to an appreciation of the connection between our history and cultural art. We serve the community through our various museums (featured below) that cover nearly every aspect of Brownsville and the Rio Grande Valley’s history and culture.‍  The vision of BHA is to improve the quality of life for all residents of Brownsville, Texas, and its environs by providing life-long learning experiences about the history, cultural arts, and heritage of the region, and to continue to attract tourism to the heart of Historic Downtown Brownsville. ‍The Brownsville Historical Association serves the community through eight unique locations and numerous programs throughout the year.  BHA, features four museums: The Brownsville Heritage Museum portrays visual images of the historical evolution of the city and surrounding regions from discovery and exploration up to the first half of the 20th Century. The photographs, maps, costumes, and artifacts provide a unique perspective on various aspects of Brownsville life, ranging from street scenes and education to transportation and ranching. The Brownsville Heritage Museum hosts numerous presentations, musical performances, and book signings throughout the year. The Stillman House Museum is among the oldest surviving structures in Brownsville.  The house seen today is the result of additions made by the Trevino family during their time in the house.  The original windows, shutters, and doors are still in place and the breezy courtyards enjoyed by the Stillman and Trevino families still offer a respite from the hot Texas sun. The Historic Brownsville Museum is located at the old Southern Pacific Railroad Depot. Built-in 1928, the Southern Pacific Railroad Depot is recognized as a Texas Historical Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Inside the depot, the museum details the events that led to Brownsville's establishment and display temporary exhibits that highlight various topics related to local history. ‍The Laureles Ranch House Museum once belonged to the founder of Brownsville, Charles Stillman. Now in its new home, located in Linear Park, the fully restored home offers a rustic setting for parties and special events. Largely used for the outside porch space and the grounds outside the home, this house setting is a unique venue. ‍‍Lastly, The Costumes of America Museum is the world of Josefa Ibarra, a woman whose vibrant spirit and fierce dedication to artistry reshaped the landscape of Mexican fashion. Josefa Ibarra, often hailed as "the mother of Mexican fashion design," was born on April 12, 1919. Known for her innovative and avant-garde approach to clothing design, Josefa’s work is characterized by a kaleidoscope of bold colors, unconventional silhouettes, and a fearless embrace of new materials and textures for decades. ‍Today, Ibarra's unique vision has earned her a reputation as a trailblazer in the fashion industry. We look forward to welcoming you at our Brownsville Museums, please see our website for our museums hours and our online gift shop and to plan a visit:   https://www.brownsvillehistory.org/

A must visit if traveling to Muskegon, MI is the USS Silversides Submarine Museum! Where men and women of the military are honored, and where their history and experiences are preserved! The museum also provides experiences that educate the public about past and present military history and technology. The USS Silversides Submarine Museum was originally opened as the Great Lakes Naval Memorial and Museum, but its history is closely intertwined with that of our namesake, the USS Silversides submarine. The USS Silversides (SS-236) was commissioned on December 15, 1941, shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. She embarked on her first war patrol in April, 1942, and went on to complete 14 war patrols in the Pacific during WWII. She transited the Panama Canal in September, 1945 on her way to New York, and was decommissioned in April, 1946. She then became a stationary training ship in Chicago until 1969. After retiring from service, she spent time in Chicago as a museum ship, moving to Navy Pier in 1979. In 1987, the USS Silversides was towed across Lake Michigan to become part of the Great Lakes Naval and Memorial Museum. Eventually a two-story museum building was added to the facility, now known as the USS Silversides Submarine Museum. Today, the museum allows you to immerse yourself in WWII history, with a wide variety of permanent and temporary exhibits on display. While you’re here, you can climb aboard and down the hatch of the USS Silversides Gato-class submarine. We look forward to seeing you soon and make sure find mor information about the museum on our website!  https://silversidesmuseum.org/ Summer Hours: April 1st – October 31st - 7 Days a Week: 10am – 5:00pm.                     Winter Hours: November 1st – March 31st Thursday – Monday: 10am – 4pm Tuesday & Wednesday: CLOSED