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South Dakota Statues

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Prospector
Rapid City, SD
This Prospector statue is located at Indigo Iris Rocks and Stones. He represents John "Johnny One Feather" Aanrud who ran the pan-for-gold attraction at this location. For more, see this website. [map]

Ken's Minerals
& Trading Post
Custer, SD
 Michaelangelo's David
Sioux Falls, SD
This fiberglass statue at Ken's Minerals & Trading Post is located inside the store. The same statue appears inside Wall Drug (see below).

This full-scale replica of Michaelangelo's David was created by Thomas Fawick and donated to the city in 1971. It was placed in a downtown park despite much controversy over the statue's nudity. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]

President Warren Harding
Rapid City, SD
 President Jimmy Carter
Rapid City, SD
Rapid City is known as the City of Presidents and 44 statues have been installed around town since 2000. For more, see this website.

This bronze statue of President Warren Harding and his Airedale Terrier, Laddie Boy, was created by John Lopez. [map]

This statue of President Jimmy Carter was also created by John Lopez. [map]

Buffalo Bill
Wasta, SD
This 27-foot-tall Buffalo Bill statue was built in 1967 and installed at Buffalo Bill's Wild West restaurant in Sioux Falls which operated from 1968-1971. The statue was later moved to Cody's Tavern & Grill. In 2018, it was spotted laying on a trailer behind Aqua One in Sioux Falls. Since 2021, the statue has been located at the Redwood Motel in Wasta. There was another Buffalo Bill restaurant and statue like this in Northridge, CA. For more, see this website. [map]

Wall Drug
Wall, SD
These Wall Drug statues are located inside the store. The statues in the top row above appear to be wood carved. Those in the bottom row are fiberglass and were mass-produced.

Presidents Park [gone]
Lead, SD
Presidents Park featured 20-foot-tall busts of all the U.S. presidents. They were created by David Adickes who was inspired by nearby Mt. Rushmore. Presidents Park opened in 2003. The place was closed when I was there in 2006 so I could only get these photos through the fence. The park was officially closed after that. It's been reported that the statues may be moved closer to Mount Rushmore. However, that has not happened. The relief sculpture of Lincoln (first photo above) is still there. I don't know if any of the statues are still there other than the bust of Lincoln which remains at the entrance. The Theodore Roosevelt head is now located in Watford City, ND. Adickes opened a second Presidents Park in Williamsburg, VA in 2004. That location closed in 2010. Adickes also created a giant Sam Houston in Huntsville, TX. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Presidents Park Information Center
Rapid City, SD (now Hermosa, SD)

2006:

2012:
The Presidents Park Information Center was located near Mount Rushmore and promoted the park in Lead, SD (described above). These busts of John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, and George W. Bush were also produced by David Adickes. The busts were moved to Hermosa near the Foothills Trading Post. They have been there since at least 2011. [map]

Weary Wil and Dirty Lil
Brookings, SD
This Weary Wil and Dirty Lil statues are installed in the Quad at South Dakota State University. They were created by David Anderson, an SDSU graduate. The statue of Weary Wil and his dog Spot was installed in 2011. Dirty Lil and her kitten Mittens were added in 2013. The tradition of Hobo Day at SDSU dates back to the early 1900s when students dressed as hobos met the opposing football teams at the train station. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

More South Dakota:
Abraham Lincoln (Buffalo Ridge) [gone?]
Mount Rushmore National Memorial (Keystone)
Cowboy (Lemmon)
Cowboy Riding a Bronco (Lemmon)
Cowboy Riding a Triceratops (Lemmon)
Happy Chef (Mitchell) [gone]

Statues Main Page