Trail of Governors
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Trail of Governors
207 E. Capitol Ave., Suite 12
Pierre, SD 57501

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Donated to Date: $412, 050.24
updated 4-29-2013

  

Welcome to the Trail of Governors.

Latest News!

South Dakota RetailersRonald D. and Linda Olinger and the South Dakota Retailers Association have announced a major contribution to help fund Gov. Robert Scadden Vessey’s statue along the Trail of Governors in Pierre.

Governor Vessey, who served from 1909 to 1913, was one of the nine founders of the Retailers Association in 1897. Ron Olinger served as a lobbyist for the Association from 1991 to 2013. SDRA Board Members, the Olingers, and Trail of Governors Foundation Board Members gathered at the SDRA building in Pierre today to formally announce the donations from SDRA and the Olingers. Governor Vessey's statue will be placed near the entrance to the SDRA Building, at the corner of Nicollet and Capitol Avenues in Pierre. For more details, visit our website: www.sdra.org

Governor Frank L. Farrar DonorsGovernor Frank Farrar Statue Donors

First National Bank, First Savings Bank and Capital Card Services presenting $68,000 + check to Trail of Governors board members.

(from left to right) Pat Adams board member, Rick Jensen board president, Craig Davis 1st National Bank, Matt Judson 1st National Bank and Charles Schroyer board member

Statues to be completed in 2013

  • William J. Janklow - by Lee Leuning & Sherri Treeby
  • Harvey Wollman - by John Lopez
  • Frank L. Farrar - by James Michael Maher

Governor's Arthur C. Mellette, Walter D. Miller, and Harlan J. Bushfield Statue Photos
Bushfield Arthur C. Mellette   Walter D. Miller Harlan J. Bushfield

Statues to Honor SD Governors

Read more about this story on www.newscenter1.tv

Sneak Peek Slated for Governor Miller Statue

The life-sized, clay model of Governor Miller will be on display from 1-2 p.m. Thursday, December 15, at the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre. Continued

View Photos
Established in 2010, the Trail of Governors Foundation is committed to honoring South Dakota’s chief executives in a unique and lasting manner. While the physical trail is located in South Dakota’s state capital, the project has brought partners together from across the state and beyond its borders.
Trail of GovernorsThe foundation has commissioned South Dakota artists to create life-sized, bronze statues of the state’s past governors. A minimum of three statues will be erected each year and the “Trail of Governors” will connect the state capitol and the Missouri River. The foundation is relying entirely upon private donations and corporate underwriters to fulfill its vision. Dakota Prairie Bank and Leroy and Charlene Foster are providing interest-free loans to underwrite a portion of this project and up to four sponsors are needed to fund each statue. The South Dakota Community Foundation is also a project partner and all donations are tax-deductible. Up to four sponsors are needed for each South Dakota governor and donations are tax-deductible.

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. A timeline for the creation of each statue may be found here.

This is a truly unique and South Dakotan way to honor our state’s leaders. We hope this project will spark your interest and we hope you will contact us with any questions or comments you might have. In the meantime, we ask you to check back occasionally and follow the progress! Thanks again for stopping by and enjoy our website!
Trail of Governors