Statue #35: John F. Kennedy

Rapid City, South Dakota

John F. Kennedy (1961-1963) still tugs at America's heartstrings nearly 60 years after his assassination. His bronze statue, sculpted by John Lopez, shows him as a doting father, smiling and walking with his young son John-John, holding his hand and a small airplane -- one of the boy's favorite toys. Both would die young -- John-John at 38 while piloting a small airplane. According to Rapid City's Visitors Bureau, JFK is one of the most popular of its 40+ President statues.

Kennedy's continuing appeal is evident across Roadside America -- check out our JFK Tourist Guide.

Amazing Arcana of the Presidents

President Kennedy, his assassin Lee Harvey Oswald, and his assassin, Jack Ruby, all died at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas.

[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.