Statue #16: Abraham Lincoln
Rapid City, South Dakota
America has erected more statues of Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865) than any other President, so creating one that's unique takes some imagination. Striving to portray Lincoln as both a family man and a Commander-in-Chief, James Michael Maher sculpted him sitting in a chair, one hand on the shoulder of his young son, Tad, dressed in a Civil War uniform, playing with a toy cannon -- the other hand holding a telegram reporting casualties from the Battle of Cold Harbor, one of the bloodiest Union defeats of the war. There wasn't a lot of frivolity during Lincoln's time in office.
[Still, Roadside America has visited a wealth of America's Loopiest Lincoln Landmarks.]
Amazing Arcana of the Presidents
Lincoln was the first bearded President. The next four elected Presidents also wore beards, and none has had a beard since.
[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.