Page 5 - 2019-annual-report

2019 Trail of Governors Annual Report

Trail Visitation Donor Opportunities

Consisting of sculptures located outdoors on publicly accessible rights-of-way, the 1st Governor Arthur Mellette, 1889-1893 – fully funded; unveiled in 2012
Trail of Governors is an attraction that requires no admission. Access to the trail is 2nd Governor Charles Sheldon, 1893-1897 – donor opportunities; scheduled
unrestricted and available every hour of the day, each day of the year, making it for 2020
difficult to quantify the number of visitors to the trail. Utilizing data available 3rd Governor Andrew E. Lee, 1897-1901 – donor opportunities; scheduled for 2021
from a variety of sources, the foundation board determined that there were 30,000 4th Governor Charles Herreid, 1901-1905 – fully funded; unveiled in 2015
visitors to the trail in 2018 and more than 32,000 visitors in 2019. These numbers 5th Governor Samuel H. Elrod, 1905-1907 – ½ funded; donor opportunities;
include school groups, those attending annual trail events, those interested South unveiled in 2019
Dakota history and politics, as well as those with an appreciation of the arts. 6th Governor Coe Crawford, 1907-1909 – donor opportunities; scheduled
for 2020
Plans for 2020 7th Governor Robert Vessey, 1909-1913 – fully funded; unveiled in 2014

Statues commissioned to be unveiled and erected in 2020 are Govs. Sheldon, 8th Governor Frank Byrne, 1913-1917 – ¼ funded; donor opportunities;
Crawford and Gunderson. Artist James Michael Maher has been commissioned scheduled for 2021
to work on Sheldon, Lee Luening and Sherri Treeby are creating Crawford, and 9th Governor Peter Norbeck, 1917-1921 – fully funded; unveiled in 2014
James Van Nuys is sculpting Gunderson. The unveiling ceremony is planned for the 10th Governor William H. McMaster, 1921-1925 – fully funded; unveiled in 2018
morning of June 12, at the Capitol Rotunda. Plaque-named donors are being sought 11th Governor Carl Gunderson, 1925-1927 – donor opportunities; scheduled
for all three statues. for 2020
12th Governor William J. Bulow, 1927-1931 – ¼ funded; donor opportunities;
Funds Raised scheduled for 2021

The Trail of Governors has raised $1,974,540 since its launch and through the year 13th Governor Warren Green, 1931-1933– fully funded; unveiled in 2016
2019, along with $29,284 in endowment funds. The foundation must raise $400,000 14th Governor Tom Berry, 1933-1937 – fully funded; unveiled in 2017
to finish funding the 31 statues honoring the state’s former governors. Donors 15th Governor Leslie Jensen, 1937-1939 – fully funded; unveiled in 2017
from throughout South Dakota and the United States have contributed to the 16th Governor Harlan Bushfield, 1939-1943 – fully funded; unveiled in 2012
funds raised thus far, celebrating our leaders while showcasing the state’s artists
and rich history. 17th Governor Merrell Q. Sharpe, 1943-1947 – fully funded; unveiled in 2018
18th Governor George T. Mickelson, 1947-1951 – fully funded; unveiled in 2015
A full statue sponsorship is $72,000 and naming rights on each statue’s plaque 19th Governor Sigurd Anderson, 1951-1955 – fully funded; unveiled in 2017
begin with a one-quarter investment of $18,000. All donations to the trail are 20th Governor Joe Foss, 1955-1959 – fully funded; unveiled in 2017
tax-deductible. 21st Governor Ralph Herseth, 1959-1961 – fully funded; unveiled in 2018
22nd Governor Archie Gubbrud, 1961-1965 – ¼ funded; donor opportunities;
unveiled in 2019

A vision to create a lasting legacy of South Dakota’s governors.