• Christopher Columbus welcomes visitors to new New York City digs

    Mary Altaffer / AP

    Visitors take in the view during a media preview of "Discovering Columbus," by Japanese artist Tatzu Nishi, on Sept. 19 in New York's Columbus Circle.

    A statue of Christopher Columbus in New York City got its very own penthouse when it was erected on scaffolding as part of an art installation by Japanese artist Tatzu Nishi. TODAY's Natalie Morales reports.

    Starting today, visitors to Columbus Circle in New York City will have the opportunity to get cozy with one of the city's iconic statues inside a new contemporary living room built six stories above a bustling traffic circle.

    Japanese artist Tatzu Nishi created the 810-square-foot living room atop the Columbus Monunment, so people could get an up close view of the 13-foot statue of Christopher Columbus standing amid couches, lamps and a coffee table.

    "Discovering Columbus" will be open through Nov. 18, and will be free of charge, though visitors will need to reserve passes in advance through the Public Art Fund in Columbus Circle.

    Mary Altaffer / AP

    A 13-foot statue of Christopher Columbus stands amid the couches, lamps and coffee table of the artist installation in New York City.

    Justin Lane / EPA

    Traffic passes by the 'Discovering Columbus' apartment (white building) built by artist Tatzu Nishi around the Christopher Columbus statue located in Columbus Circle in New York City on Sept. 19.

  • Gred Orred / EPA

    The giant face of Chief Crazy Horse is slowly taking shape at the Crazy Horse Memorial that is being carved out of Thunder Mountain in the Black Hills near Custer, South Dakota. The massive undertaking, originally the creation and idea of Polish-American artist and sculptor Korczak Ziokowski, was started in 1948, and it might be the largest sculpture in the world measuring when completed at 641 feet wide and 563 feet high. The head of Crazy Horse is 87 feet high. In comparison, the faces of the US president carved in Mt. Rushmore are 60 feet high. Ziokowski with approval from Chief Standing Bear and other Native Americans envisioned not only a monument to Native Americans, but also an educational and cultural center that currently includes the Indian Museum of North America, the Native American Cultural Center as well as workshops for Native American. Ziokowski and his relatives have refused government funding for the non-profit project and instead rely on donations and admissions to the memorial for funding to complete the Crazy Horse Memorial.

    (Bottom) The Crazy Horse Memorial at Thunder Mountain is lit up in the evening prior to the laser light show in the Black Hills near Custer, South Dakota on Aug. 11, 2010.

    Mike Nelson / EPA

    Slow, steady progress with Crazy Horse

    By Robert Hood

    I first saw the Crazy Horse Monument 20 years ago. It seemed impossibly large. I’m sort of amazed that they’ve made this much progress.

    Read more about the monument at its official website.