Statue #19: Rutherford B. Hayes
Rapid City, South Dakota
One-term Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-1881), apart from his luxuriant Smith Bros. Cough Drops beard, was known for his brisk daily walks around Washington, DC. Sculptor Lee Leuning captured him in mid-stride, and did such an effective job that passing cars sometimes slam on their brakes, thinking that an oblivious elder is about to step in front of them.
If you have three travel comrades and a bollard doesn't ruin the composition, try an Abbey Road photo op, with Hayes as George Harrison.
Across the street, bronze President Grover Cleveland looks up from his book toward power-walking Hayes with apparent exhaustion.
Amazing Arcana of the Presidents
Hayes was the first President to have flush toilets 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.