The plan is to erect statues for every South Dakota governor who has served our state and is no longer in office. This totals 30 individuals to-date. This will be an ongoing process which will continue to honor future governors.

The statues will be placed on city property, creating a trail from the Missouri River-front area, through downtown Pierre and continuing to and around the state Capitol complex. The City of Pierre and the state of South Dakota support the project and each government is represented on the foundation by ex-officio board members.

Yes, the foundation will print and distribute copies of walking trail maps for those wishing to follow the trail. These maps will include biographies for each governor. The maps will be distributed via both the city’s and the state’s visitor centers. They will also be available to print from the trail’s Web site: www.TrailofGovernors.com

The foundation’s goal is to erect a minimum of three statues per year. There is a possibility of sculpting up to six statues in a year, depending upon donors. If a donor comes forward with funding for a specific governor, all efforts will be made to complete that sculpture during the year.

The schedule outlines three statues per year for ten years. The governor statues will follow the timeline and order established working from outside inward, i.e. the first year’s statues will include an early governor (Mellette) and a recent governor to leave office (Miller), as well as a mid-timeline governor (Bushfield). Collectively, the artists have the ability to do up to six statues each year. Thus, additional governors may be moved up within the timeline provided a sponsor comes forward with full funding. Once the full decade and the original 30 statues are completed, more recent governors will be added to the project as they leave the governor’s office. If a sponsor comes forth with funding for a specific governor, that sculpture will be added to the three specified for the year.

Each statue will be a life-size bronze created by a South Dakota artist, based on research of that governor. The artists refer to family members, history books and documents on file in the state’s archives to conduct their research. Each sculpture will reflect the human side of the governor it portrays.

The payment is part of a contractual agreement between the foundation and each artist. The $72,000 sponsorship covers most costs associated with sculpting and erecting the statues and plaques.

There are no identical projects or governor trails like this according to information collected by the board. This will be a uniquely South Dakota attraction.

You may contact President Rick Jensen, any board member or the South Dakota Community Foundation. Advisory Board members are located throughout the state. For a complete list, please refer to www.TrailofGovernors.com. Donations may also be made online. All donations are tax-deductible.