Presidential Walk
Rapid City, South Dakota
Historic Downtown Rapid City,
celebrates as
The City of the Presidents
President George Washington
First President of the United States
This statue of George Washington portrays him as a general in full military
dress attire. Before he was known as a politician and, subsequently, President
of the United States, George Washington was a military commander. At 6’2”,
Washington was a tall man for this time in history and, like all the other
presidential statues, is shown as life size. Depicted in a prideful military
stature, he is shown at possibly his finest hour.
Sculptor: Lee Leuning
Benefactor: Rushmore Bank and Trust
President John Adams
Second President of the United States
As our second President, John Adams was known for his ability as a great orator.
After Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, it was John Adams
who presented it to Congress "with a power of thought and expression that moved
us from our seats." As an important contributor to the Continental Congress,
Adams is shown delivering an oratory dressed in full dress of that time period.
Sculptor: John Lopez
Benefactor: Stanford Adelstein
President Thomas Jefferson
Third President of the United States
Our third President of the United States, Jefferson was the most gifted writer
of his time. He is shown here during the most important segment of our American
history, the writing of the Declaration of independence. If you look closely,
the Declaration is shown in its total composition on this statue. Jefferson
appears to be looking away from the document, as if looking to the future.
Sculptor: Edward E. Hlavka
Benefactor: Dr. Edward and Peg Seljeskog
President James Madison
Fourth President of the United States
Known as the “Great Little Madison,” James Madison was most likely the most
intellectual of all the presidents. Madison was a major contributor to most of
the Constitution of the United States. He was a man of small stature, standing
only 5'2” tall and weighing only one hundred pounds. He did not have a strong
speaking voice so was not known as a great orator, choosing to be behind the
scenes. He is shown here with his finger at a page in a reference book.
Sculptor: Lee Leuning
Benefactor: Bill and Pete Duhamel
President James Monroe
Fifth President of the United States
President James Monroe was a man of tall stature, standing over six feet tall.
Monroe was the only President to be re-elected without competition. He was known
to be very cordial man, a man of charming demeanor who always carried a cane. He
is shown in the attire of that time in history.
Sculptor: Lee Leuning
Benefactor: Walt Hall Family
President John Quincy Adamsms
Sixth President of the United States
John Quincy Adams is shown as you might see him as you crossed paths with him at
any time. John Quincy was not a casual man in any sense of the word and was
always dressed in full formal dress with top hat and cane. Here he is portrayed
as the man he was on all occasions.
Sculptor: John Lopez
Benefactor: First Western Bank
President Andrew Jackson
Seventh President of the United States
Andrew Jackson was a man of strong will with a military background. Jackson was
a firebrand, a duelist and an Indian fighter. He is depicted here as a man of
defiance, a characteristic that dominated his lifestyle. With military uniform
billowing and arms folded sternly, this shows the true attitude of this man.
Sculptor: James Michael Maher
Benefactor: Art and Sarah Ludwick
President Martin Van Buren
Eighth President of the United States
Van Buren is seated on a bench, reading his local newspaper, the Kinderhook. At
5'6", plump in figure and always elegantly dressed, his colleagues called him
“The Little Magician.” Van Buren was probably the first of what we now come to
know as a true politician. The sculptor placed him on a bench to allow
interaction with the public, creating an opportunity for a photograph with one
of our Presidents.
Sculptor: Edward E. Hlavka
Benefactor: Sponsorship available
President Dwight Eisenhower
Thirty-Fourth President of the United States
Portrayed as one of our historically important generals, the sculptor chose to
portray him as the Supreme Allied Commander on the eve the Normandy Invasion. If
you notice, at his feet, he stands with his foot on England, straddles the
English Channel and stands on Europe with the other foot, depicting a very
significant time in the history of the free world.
Sculptor: Lee Leuning
Benefactor: Art and Sarah Ludwick
President John Kennedy
Thirty-Fifth President of the United States
The sculptor chose to show Kennedy with his son, John Jr. He is handing his son
one of his favorite toys, an air fighter plane. This moment in time takes place
at the White House after the President is winding down following a Cabinet
meeting. This is a very popular image of Kennedy during one of his happier
moments with a member of his family.
Sculptor: John Lopez
Benefactor: The Family of Pandju Merali
President Lyndon Johnson
Thirty-Sixth President of the United States
This statue depicts Johnson in what came to be known as the “the Johnson
treatment.” Although not an overly tall man, he had a very menacing, strong
presence and was known for his tendency to get “in one’s face” to make a point.
He is shown here with that forward thrust of his body that tended to intimidate
those around him. The books on the desk next to him were Machiavelli’s The
Prince and The Great Society.
Sculptor: James Michael Maher
Benefactor: Sponsorship Available
President Richard Nixon
Thirty-Seventh President of the United States
This statue represents Richard Nixon during his delicate negotiations of the
opening of China to the western world. He is posed in a Chinese-design chair,
with the power posture of his hands, negotiating with Mao Tse-tung (Zedong).
History would later recognize this as one of his finest moments.
Sculptor: Edward E. Hivaka
Benefactor: Arthur and Sarah Ludwick, Dr. Edward and Peg Seijeskog
President Gerald Ford
Thirty-Eighth President of the United States
Gerald Ford was man of strong athletic abilities, having played football for the
University of Michigan. Ford graduated in the top 5% of his class. Standing over
six feet tall, he was a well-built man with a comfortable demeanor. His
presidency was marked by difficult decisions involving the ending of the war in
Vietnam and the aftermath of the Watergate scandal. The nation was fortunate to
have his calm, conciliatory leadership at the critical time. He is shown here
with his Golden Retriever, Liberty, who frequently shared the Oval Office with
President Ford.
Sculptor: James Michael Maher
Benefactor: Dodgetown: The Rypkema Family
President Jimmy Carter
Thirty-Ninth President of the United States
Jimmy Carter is portrayed here as a man of the people, not one to show a lot of
pomp and circumstance. This statue captures him in one of his walks down
Pennsylvania Avenue, shown in very casual dress, jacket off, a familiar image of
President Carter. (Please note the plaid pants.)
Sculptor: John Lopez
Benefactor: Ray Godfrey, Donald Herrmann, Jim and Nelia Meier, Don and Joan
Perdue
President Ronald Reagan
Fortieth President of the United States
The sculptor chose to depict Ronald Reagan in western attire during a time that
he enjoyed the most, spending time on his ranch. Reagan was a man of strong body
and strong will who enjoyed the physical labor on his ranch. This activity gave
him respite from the rigors of the Presidency.
Sculptor: James Michael Maher
Benefactor: Chuck and Barbara Lien
President George Bush
Forty-First President of the United States
President George Herbert Walker Bush is portrayed during his time as President.
President Bush’s interests were certainly global so it seems fitting that he
should be presented with a world globe. It is interesting to note that President
George Bush is standing opposite President John Adams, the only two presidents
to have their sons, President John Quincy Adams and President George W. Bush,
also serving as presidents.
Sculptor: Edward E. Hivaka
Benefactor: Don and Joan Perdue
