The idea of the City of Presidents was pitched to the City of Rapid City in 1999 by a local man named Don Purdue . “Purdue had noticed visitors flocking to a temporary statue of former President Abraham Lincoln when sitting on the patio of downtown’s Paddy O’Neill’s Irish Pub & Grill , and the idea was born,” said Benne. With the help of Dallerie Davis , and South Dakota artists John Lopez , Lee Leuning and Sherri Treeby , James Michael Maher , and Edward Hlavka , the first four statues were placed downtown in 2000 and included former President George Washington , John Adams , Ronald Reagan , and George H.W. Bush . “Over the next 10 years, this group of local artists and an artist by the name of John Van Nuys worked to create and place the remaining 39,” said Benne. Visitors and locals are encouraged to begin the tour by grabbing the City of Presidents Guide at the Rapid City Visitor Center .
The City of Presidents Guide is available at the Rapid City Visitor Center at 613 Main Street. get your guide
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