7 Presidents You Can Take a Photo With in Rapid City, SD
Take a stroll through history in the City of Presidents and snap a shot with these U.S. leaders
Mount Rushmore isn’t the only place to see icons when you visit Rapid City. Head downtown for the City of Presidents project and find some serious photo ops.
With its proximity to Mount Rushmore, Rapid City, South Dakota, is a destination for people who want to get up close and personal with former U.S. presidents (so to speak). But there’s another way to encounter some famous presidential faces in the area. Among the Rapid City attractions is the City of Presidents project, a series of 42 life-sized bronze statues of presidents. The POTUS statues, a local highlight, wind along a 10-block loop of downtown streets and sidewalks framed by local boutiques, entertainment venues and restaurants. Here are seven leaders you won’t want to miss.
High-five Jimmy Carter
On the corner of Sixth and St. Joseph streets stands a statue of Carter, the peanut farmer from Georgia who became the nation’s 39th president. The statue, built by sculptor John Lopez, shows him with his suit jacket off and his sleeves rolled up, embodying his casual demeanor. To show his commitment to a new kind of leadership, Carter got out of his limousine after his inaugural address and walked to the White House with his supporters. Now, he stands downtown in Rapid City, waving to all who walk past. There’s even a peanut on the plaque.
Get a thumbs-up from George W. Bush
The first term of our 43rd president was forever changed by the 9/11 attacks. But sculptor James Michael Maher couldn’t help but notice Bush’s optimism throughout his administration. Standing on the corner of Fifth and St. Joseph streets, the statue of Bush gives a thumbs-up to passersby near the edge of the downtown district; his dog Barney is with him, too.
Give a salute to Dwight D. Eisenhower
Eisenhower’s statue stands tall on the corner of Fifth and St. Joseph streets. Scholars consider the 34th president, who signed the Civil Rights Act of 1957, to be one of the greatest of the 20th century. But sculptors Lee Leuning and Sherri Treeby chose to focus on his pre-presidency accomplishments. The statue depicts him from his time as the Supreme Allied Commander in charge of the D-Day invasion in 1944, straddling the English Channel with one foot in England and the other in France.
Declare your independence with Thomas Jefferson
“Witness” a moment in history with the statue of Thomas Jefferson, as he signs the Declaration of Independence. Photo credit: @theodorepatton
Making his second appearance in the Black Hills—as he’s also on Mount Rushmore—Jefferson’s statue is a can’t-miss on the corner of Seventh and St. Joseph streets. Sculptor Edward E. Hlavka included one stunning detail on his statue of the former president. If you look closely at Jefferson’s document, you’ll see the Declaration is shown in full.
Smile with John F. Kennedy
Say “Cheese!” with John F. Kennedy, whose playful statue includes him holding hands with son John Jr. as they admire a toy airplane.
On the corner of Mount Rushmore Road and Main Street, the statue of Kennedy shows the 35th president handing his son John Jr. a toy fighter plane. As the second-youngest president (he took office at age 43), Kennedy’s greatest accomplishments were in foreign affairs. He established the Peace Corps via executive order, capitalizing on the positive activism he had created with his memorable line, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”
Stand tall by Andrew Jackson
Taking a defiant stance, just as Maher, the sculptor, intended, Jackson’s statue stands on the corner of Mount Rushmore Road and Main Street. Jackson, a man of strong will with a notable military background, sought to advance the rights of the common man as our seventh president.
Measure up to James Madison
The statue of our fourth president on the corner of Seventh and St. Joseph streets is life-sized—even thought it stands just 5 feet 2 inches tall. “Great Little Madison,” thought to be one of the most intellectual presidents, was a major contributor to the Constitution. He chose to be behind the scenes during his presidency, however, and sculptors Leuning and Treeby reflected this by depicting him with his finger marking his place in a book.
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