The Trail of Governors Foundation has announced that Kristi Noem will be joining her fellow former governors with a life-sized bronze statue on the trail in June:
The Trail of Governors Foundation Board will host the unveiling of former Governor Kristi Noem’s life-size bronze statue at 10 a.m. CDT on Friday, June 12, 2026, at the State Capitol grounds in Pierre.
Gov. Noem’s statue is being created by sculptor John Lopez of Lemmon, S.D. Noem’s statue will join 31 governors’ statues on the trail that winds its way throughout the capital city’s downtown to and through the state capitol grounds. Each statue tells the story of that governor during their lifetime or service to the state. A bronze plaque at each statue acknowledges the statue’s major contributors and a QR code allows visitors with smart phones to read and listen to the governor’s biography.
The statues are entirely funded by donations and donor opportunities are available for Gov. Noem’s statue. More information including how to donate can be found at TrailofGovernors.com. All donors are listed on this website, are tax deductible and managed by the South Dakota Community Foundation.
The statue of Governor Noem is slated to stand at the south end of Hilger’s Gulch, north of the State Capitol. A gallery of each statue of the Trail of Governors, and a map showing the location of each statue, can be viewed here.
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