You might catch yourself humming "Hail to the Chief" as you explore The City of Presidents in downtown Rapid City. This series of life-sized bronze statues of American Presidents line the area's streets and sidewalks. Engage with history and take some commanding photos with your favorite! For a detailed walking guide, click here.
WE MADE COOLIDGE A COWBOY
To appease farmers & ranchers while also escaping the oppressive DC heat, President Calvin Coolidge set up a summer White House in the Black Hills of South Dakota in 1927. "His secret service agent called it sort of a second childhood that he experienced here, like he had woken up in a dimestore cowboy novel," said Seth Tupper, author of Calvin Coolidge in the Black Hills. "He really seemed to have a lot of fun."
THE FILLMORE THREAT
Six different artists sculpted the 40+ bronze President statues on the street corners of Rapid City. According to Dallerie Davis, co-founder of the City of Presidents project, "If one of them wasn't cooperating, I threatened them with having to do Millard Fillmore."
Nix-cellent
Some say that the Richard Nixon statue is reminiscent of The Simpsons villain Montgomery Burns. The body language makes it hard to argue the point.
