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Franklin Pierce Statue.

Statue #14: Franklin Pierce

Field review by the editors.

Rapid City, South Dakota

Franklin Pierce (1853-1857) was likable as a person but bad as a President. Sculptor James Van Nuys gave his bronze statue of Pierce a haunted look, possibly anticipating the Civil War that he failed to prevent, but more likely mourning his third and last-living child, who died in a train wreck that Pierce and his wife survived. Known for his excess drinking, Pierce stands in front of a Rapid City bar; the juxtaposition is not intentional.

Amazing Arcana of the Presidents

Franklin Pierce Statue.

Pierce was the first president to have a Christmas tree and a bathtub in the White House.

[Discover more fascinating details in the Roadside Presidents iPhone app!]

City of Presidents

Since 2000, Rapid City has commissioned and installed bronze statues of every former U.S. President on its downtown street corners. Visitors are encouraged to take a walking tour of the City of Presidents and inspect the nation's metallic Commanders in Chief. Paper guides are available year-round at the city's main Visitor Center at 512 Main St.

Roadside Presidents
Roadside Presidents App for iPhone. Find this attraction and more: museums, birthplaces, graves of the Chief Execs, first ladies, pets, assassins and wannabes. Prez bios and oddball trivia. Available on the App Store.

Also see: America's Street Corner Presidents

Statue #14: Franklin Pierce

Address:
899 Main St., Rapid City, SD
Directions:
Downtown. Southeast corner of Main and 9th Sts.
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Nearby Offbeat Places

Statue #26: Teddy RooseveltStatue #26: Teddy Roosevelt, Rapid City, SD - < 1 mi.
Statue #16: Abraham LincolnStatue #16: Abraham Lincoln, Rapid City, SD - < 1 mi.
Statue #15: James BuchananStatue #15: James Buchanan, Rapid City, SD - < 1 mi.
In the region:
Statue # 4: James Madison, Rapid City, SD - < 1 mi.

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