Statue #29: Warren Harding
Rapid City, South Dakota
Warren Harding (1921-1923) has a woeful historical reputation, generally regarded as a President who was in over his head, running an administration fouled with corruption. This made it difficult to craft a meaningful statue of Harding -- so sculptor John Lopez instead chose to depict the 29th President standing in suit and bowtie, grinning next to his devoted dog, Laddie Boy, who had his own chair for White House cabinet meetings. A sculpted chair is available for visitors to sit in for photos. Laddie Boy won't mind.
Amazing Arcana of the Presidents
Despite serving as President during Prohibition, Harding was known for stocking the White House with an apparently bottomless supply of booze.
[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.