Statue #18: Ulysses S. Grant
Rapid City, South Dakota
Ulysses S. Grant (1869-1877) is one of several former military men whose accomplishments as generals has been judged by historians as better than their efforts as Presidents. So... Grant's statue by John Lopez depicts him in his Union Army uniform, with one hand resting on a column listing his Civil War battles. The other hand, behind his back, holds one of his signature cigars (Grant received thousands of gift cigars from fans and friends. He seemed determined to smoke all of them, and eventually died of tongue and throat cancer). The statue, like all the other Presidents on the streets of Rapid City, is bronze, while Grant's sword is stainless steel.
Amazing Arcana of the Presidents
As President, Grant often wore a stovepipe hat like Lincoln's. Perhaps to avoid confusion, it's never depicted in Grant statues.
[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.