After reaching a major milestone with all 31 former South Dakota governors commemorated in bronze statues placed throughout the city in 2022, The Trail of Governors in Pierre the Trail is preparing to add its next figure: former Governor and current Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. A recent post on the Trail of Governors Facebook page announced that donations are being sought to fund her statue, which—like all others on the Trail—will be privately financed and gifted to the City of Pierre for long-term care and maintenance.
Sculptor John Lopez of Lemmon has begun work on Noem’s statue, though details of its final design remain undisclosed. Lopez is also creating a bison sculpture for Fort Pierre’s bridge plaza near the John Waldron Memorial Bridge. Noem’s statue is tentatively scheduled for unveiling in June of next year.
To date, more than $2.4 million has been raised to support the Trail of Governors project, with an additional $133,000 held in an endowment fund to ensure its continued upkeep.
Comments