John Quincy Adams statue in Rapid City, South Dakota.

© Pierre Jean Durieu/Shutterstock

Statues of Presidents

Top choice in Black Hills


From a shifty-eyed Nixon in repose to a triumphant Harry Truman, lifelike statues dot corners throughout the center of Rapid City. Collect all 42. Maps are available online and at the friendly info center on Main St (which also sells ice cream). A much-anticipated 43rd statue, for Barack Obama, was due to debut at the corner of St Joseph and Fourth Sts in late 2019.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Black Hills attractions

1. Journey Museum & Learning Center

0.63 MILES

This impressive downtown facility is four museums in one, looking at the history of the region from prehistoric times until today. Collections come from…

2. Museum of Geology

1.23 MILES

All that drama underground has produced some spectacular rocks. See these plus dinosaur bones and some stellar fossils here at the South Dakota School of…

3. Reptile Gardens

6.6 MILES

Reptiles, snakes, giant tortoises and many more critters inspire countless 'wows.'

4. Bear Country USA

8.04 MILES

Oodles of bears big and small in this drive-through park live off the land and hope you'll do something forbidden like offering them a Big Mac, or your…

5. Mount Rushmore National Memorial

18.09 MILES

Visitors can't help but be impressed by the sheer scale and massive physical effort of the team behind Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota…

6. Custer State Park

23.1 MILES

Mt Rushmore may lure travelers to the Black Hills, but it's nearby Custer State Park that often creates the most lasting memories. Not only does it boast…

7. Crazy Horse Memorial

26.61 MILES

The world's largest monument is this 563ft-tall work-in-progress (with a lot of work to go). When finished it will depict the Sioux leader astride his…

8. Sturgis Motorcycle Museum

26.89 MILES

This small hall-of-fame-style museum packs in a surprising number of bikes, including vintage and rare models. Its Hall of Fame honors luminaries in the…