Statue #40: Ronald Reagan

Rapid City, South Dakota

In the year 2000, Ronald Reagan (1981-1989) became one of the first four President statues unveiled in Rapid City's City of Presidents project, which ultimately placed a bronze statue of every former U.S. President on a downtown Rapid City street corner. Sculpted by James Michael Maher, Reagan remains the only street corner President not wearing a suit or a military uniform, He's dressed like a ranch dude, in a cowboy hat, boots, jeans, and a western shirt -- perhaps a nod to his B-movie western roles, and his media image as a tough Cold War frontiersman.

Amazing Arcana of the Presidents

Hollywood actor Reagan appeared with his first wife, Jane Wyman, in "Brother Rat" (1938), and with his second wife, Nancy Davis -- the future First Lady -- in "Hellcats of the Navy" (1957).

[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.