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2021 Trail of Governors Annual Report

Statues unveiled on June 11, 2021

Charles H. Sheldon, sculpted by Spearfish artist James Michael Maher, shows the Civil War-era governor
appearing to reminisce about his war days while holding a photo of himself in his Union Army uniform from that
earlier time. He gazes at South Dakota’s Civil War Veterans’ Monument across the street, along Capitol Avenue and
near Capitol Lake.

Sheldon, a Pierpont area Republican and farmer, was the state’s second goernor. He served in the territorial legislative
council prior to being elected governor. Sheldon was a popular orator, representing the Republican party at events
across South Dakota following his term as governor. It was in Deadwood where he died from pneumonia while
on such a tour.

Coe I. Crawford, sculpted by Sioux Falls and Aberdeen artists Lee Leuning and Sherri Treeby, features the
attorney in a street fight-type pose, fists up, while engaging in one of his dynamic debates on the campaign trail
before being elected governor. Craford’s statue is placed at the top of historic Pierre Street.

Crawford was a Huron Republican and the state’s sixth governor. Before serving as governor, he was a teacher, earned
his law degree, and then served as a railroad attorney. He also served in Dakota Territory’s final legislative council,
as a state legislator, and as attorney general prior to being governor. After leaving the governor’s office, Crawford
was elected to the United States Senate.

Carl Gunderson, sculpted by Rapid City artist James Van Nuys, shows the former farmer in his farm work garb,
sitting on a hay bale with a tool in his hand and a wheel to be repaired at his feet. The image harkens back to his
Norwegian homesteading family from the early 1900s. Gunderson’s statue is placed along the front of the Governor’s
Mansion lawn, along Washington Avenue.

Gunderson was a Mitchell Republican and the state’s eleventh governor. He was a farmer, state senator, and lieutenant
goernor before being elected governor. Gunderson received an engineering degree from the University of South
Dakota. He homesteaded in Clay County and also farmed in Aurora County. He is buried at Bluff View Cemetery in
Vermillion, on land he homesteaded.

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