A statue of Kristi Noem is coming to the Trail of Governors in Pierre: When can you see it?
John Lopez, a sculptor from the northwest South Dakota town of Lemmon, has begun working on Noem's life-size bronze statue, which is tentatively scheduled to be installed and unveiled in June 2026, the Trail of Governors Foundation said in a Facebook post.
When it's completed, Noem's statue will join the statues of her 31 predecessors on a trail that runs from downtown Pierre to the state Capitol grounds. Private donations fund the project.
Noem was elected as the state's first female governor in 2019. She left that role to become Homeland Security secretary under President Donald Trump.
Related: Kristi Noem adviser Corey Lewandowski reportedly under scrutiny for his work hours
What is the Trail of Governors?
The Trail Of Governors Foundation unveiled statues every year from 2012 to 2022, when it finished placing statues of 31 former governors, according to the foundation's website. The plan is to continue commissioning statues as future governors leave office.
"The governors guide visitors through Pierre's business district, near the shores of the Missouri River, and around the state Capitol complex," the foundation's website says.
More than $2.4 million has been donated to fund the work over the years.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Kristi Noem statue in the works for Pierre's Trail of Governors
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