Page 3 - 2020 TOG Annual Report

2020 Trail of Governors Annual Report

Trail Visitation Donor Opportunities

Those following the trail continued to increase in number during 2020, despite 1st Governor Arthur Mellette, 1889-1893 – fully funded; unveiled in 2012
the pandemic, as folks felt safe being outdoors and enjoyed finding new activities. 2nd Governor Charles Sheldon, 1893-1897 – donor opportunities; scheduled
South Dakota was a popular destination for visitors since the state was not in for 2021
lock-down or requiring businesses to close. The state is known for wide-open 3rd Governor Andrew E. Lee, 1897-1901 – ¼ funded; donor opportunities;
spaces and great outdoor sites so trail visitation remained strong. Visitors and locals scheduled for 2022
walked the route and stopped for selfies by the life-size statues. 4th Governor Charles Herreid, 1901-1905 – fully funded; unveiled in 2015
5th Governor Samuel H. Elrod, 1905-1907 – ½ funded; donor opportunities;
Looking Around the Bend unveiled in 2019

The year 2022 will be momentous for the trail as the final former governors’ statues 6th Governor Coe Crawford, 1907-1909 – ¼ funded; donor opportunities;
are added to the trail. These statues will honor Govs. Andrew Lee, Frank Byrne and scheduled for 2021
W.J. Bulow. From that point forward, statues will be added to the trail as governors 7th Governor Robert Vessey, 1909-1913 – fully funded; unveiled in 2014
leave office, with the next being Gov. Kristi Noem, currently serving as 8th Governor Frank Byrne, 1913-1917 – ¼ funded; donor opportunities;
South Dakota’s top executive. scheduled for 2022
9th Governor Peter Norbeck, 1917-1921 – fully funded; unveiled in 2014

With the end of the trail in sight, fundraising becomes more of a challenge with 10th Governor William H. McMaster, 1921-1925 – fully funded; unveiled in 2018
older, lessor-known governors to fund, with fewer family members and the 11th Governor Carl Gunderson, 1925-1927 – donor opportunities; scheduled
challenges of locating those governors’ contemporaries. for 2021
12th Governor William J. Bulow, 1927-1931 – ¼ funded; donor opportunities;
Funds Raised scheduled for 2022

The Trail of Governors Foundation Board has raised $2,025,269 since its launch, 13th Governor Warren Green, 1931-1933– fully funded; unveiled in 2016
along with $32,883 in endowment funds. The foundation now aims to raise 14th Governor Tom Berry, 1933-1937 – fully funded; unveiled in 2017
$225,000 for the completion of all former governor bronzes. 15th Governor Leslie Jensen, 1937-1939 – fully funded; unveiled in 2017
16th Governor Harlan Bushfield, 1939-1943 – fully funded; unveiled in 2012
A statue sponsorship is $72,000, and naming rights are available for anyone 17th Governor Merrell Q. Sharpe, 1943-1947 – fully funded; unveiled in 2018
contributing $18,000 (one-quarter of a statue) or more, to be named on the brass
plaque for the statue sponsored. 18th Governor George T. Mickelson, 1947-1951 – fully funded; unveiled in 2015
19th Governor Sigurd Anderson, 1951-1955 – fully funded; unveiled in 2017

20th Governor Joe Foss, 1955-1959 – fully funded; unveiled in 2017
21st Governor Ralph Herseth, 1959-1961 – fully funded; unveiled in 2018

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