The Story Behind One of Rapid City’s Most Monumental Attractions

Believe it or not, Rapid City wasn’t always known as the City of Presidents, and Downtown Rapid City was not the must-see destination it is today. The corners where statues now stand were empty, Art Alley was a blank canvas, and the heart of it all, Main Street Square, was a parking lot.

Everything changed when a local man, Don Perdue, noticed people interacting with a temporarily placed statue of Abraham Lincoln outside of the Hotel Alex Johnson. Perdue was struck by how naturally people engaged with it. That sparked his bold idea of creating life-sized statues of former U.S. presidents.

The idea deepened even further when Perdue witnessed statues of Stalin being torn down while on a trip to the Soviet Union. He imagined the bronze from those toppled figures being recast into American presidents, an image rich with symbolism that stayed with him.
 

Back home, he began sharing his vision of placing statues of every president on Rapid City's street corners. To Perdue, the project was about two things: sparking economic development and showing respect for those who served the country.

But Perdue didn’t do it alone. He had the vision, but not the artistic connections to make it happen, until he met Dallerie Davis. The two crossed paths at a Lincoln Day Dinner, an annual Republican fundraising event held in honor of President Lincoln. Davis was well-connected in the local art scene and had the experience to help shape the project. She became a key partner, helping Perdue turn his bold idea into something real.

The idea wasn’t an easy sell to the community, city officials or donors. It took years of conversations, fundraising and research. In 1999, Perdue formally proposed the idea to the city. A year later, the first four statues were unveiled: George Washington, John Adams, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. The City of Presidents was born and downtown began to transform. Over the years, a group of local artists have worked to create another 44 statues, bringing the total to 44 life-sized statues.

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Still, competing priorities and government red tape slowed progress, until Steve Rollinger, a Rapid City Council member at the time, stepped in. Rollinger helped guide the project through city approvals. These three, Perdue, Davis and Rollinger, formed the trail’s foundation.

The statues quickly gained popularity with locals and visitors alike. Locals started incorporating them when giving directions, “If you pass George Washington, you’ve gone too far.” Tourists loved walking through town, finding their favorites, and snapping photos.

Statues are only commissioned once a president has left office. Each statue is privately funded, so the first step is to secure funding or a sponsor for the statue. Next, a local artist will spend time researching each president’s achievements, hobbies and characteristics to inform their pose, expression and clothing. It can take up to nine months for one statue to be created!

Fun fact: All statues match the height and weight of the president, except William Howard Taft, whose statue was slightly slimmed down to make the statue more affordable.

Behind the scenes, Nancy Engler, the fourth-longest-serving board member, played a key role. She led public relations, researched and wrote presidential biographies, and even authored a book about the project, titled More Than Presidents. Her work brought depth and credibility to the trail.

Fast forward to today, the City of Presidents remains one of Rapid City’s top attractions. It’s free, educational and fun for all ages. The added fun of the scavenger hunt, found on the back of the City of Presidents brochure, can be completed and turned in for a presidential prize at the Rapid City Visitor Center or the Visit Rapid City office.

The newest feature: a free self-guided audio tour. Dial in or scan the QR code in the brochure to listen or read along. It’s an easy way to learn more about the people behind the presidencies and catch artistic details you might otherwise miss.

This year brings both a milestone and a shift forward. The statue of President Donald J. Trump, the 45th in the series, will be unveiled. Oversight of the City of Presidents is shifting from its original board to Visit Rapid City. That the trail continues today is a testament to the vision and persistence of its founder, Don Perdue, co-founder Dallerie Davis and board members Steve Rollinger, Nancy Engler and Dick Horkey. Thanks to them, the legacy of leadership, both local and national, lives on in the heart of downtown.

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