Trail of Governors facts for kids

A statue of Arthur C. Mellette, South Dakota's first governor. This was the first statue placed on the Trail of Governors.

The Trail of Governors is a special outdoor display in Pierre, the capital city of South Dakota. It features life-size bronze statues of people who used to be the governors of South Dakota. A governor is like the leader of a state, similar to a president for a country.

This exciting project started placing statues in 2012. Its main goal was to create a statue for every former governor. They finished this goal ten years later, in 2022, when the last statues were revealed. In the future, new governors, like the current Governor Kristi Noem, will also get their statues added to the trail after they finish their time in office. Many talented artists, including John Lopez, James Van Nuys, James Michael Maher, Lee Leuning, and Sherry Treeby, have created these amazing statues.

What is the Trail of Governors?

The Trail of Governors is a unique way to learn about the history of South Dakota's leaders. Imagine walking through the capital city and seeing realistic statues of people who helped shape the state! Each statue shows a governor in a way that tells a bit about their life or what they were known for. It's like an open-air museum that celebrates important figures in the state's past.

Why were the statues created?

The idea behind the Trail of Governors was to honor the people who served as the state's top leader. It helps people remember their contributions and learn about the history of South Dakota. It also makes the capital city of Pierre a more interesting place for visitors and residents.

When were the statues added?

The statues were added to the trail over several years, starting in 2012. Each year, new groups of governors were honored with their own bronze figures.

Statues added each year

• 2012: The very first statues on the trail were of Arthur C. Mellette, Harlan J. Bushfield, and Walter Dale Miller.
• 2013: More statues were added, honoring Frank Farrar, Harvey L. Wollman, and William J. Janklow.
• 2014: This year was special because South Dakota celebrated 125 years of being a state! Statues of Robert S. Vessey, Peter Norbeck, and George S. Mickelson joined the trail.
• 2015: New statues were unveiled for Charles N. Herreid, George T. Mickelson, and Richard F. Kneip.
• 2016: The trail grew with statues of Warren E. Green, Nils Boe, and M. Michael Rounds.
• 2017: Four new statues were added this year: Tom Berry, Leslie Jensen, Sigurd Anderson, and Joe Foss.
• 2018: Statues of William H. McMaster, Merrell Q. Sharpe, and Ralph Herseth were placed on the trail.
• 2019: The trail welcomed statues of Samuel H. Elrod, Archie M. Gubbrud, and Dennis Daugaard.
• 2021: After a short delay in 2020, statues of Charles H. Sheldon, Coe I. Crawford, and Carl Gunderson were finally revealed.
• 2022: The project completed its first big goal by adding the last statues of Andrew E. Lee, Frank M. Byrne, and William J. Bulow.