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Presidential Visits to South Dakota

Theodore Roosevelt Visiting South Dakota
South Dakota Historical Society
/
South Dakota Digital Archives
Theodore Roosevelt Visiting South Dakota

South Dakota has always been considered a flyover country, but a few American Presidents have made their way to the Mount Rushmore State.

The first was William McKinley who visited on October 18, 1899. His was a campaign trip in which he traveled with the state’s governor and Members of Congress. The group made twelve stops on the Milwaukee Railroad between Groton and Elk Point, including Aberdeen, Sioux Falls, and Huron.

Excerpt of the October 19, 1899 edition of the Turner County Herald
Turner County Herald
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Newspapers.com
Excerpt of the October 19, 1899 edition of the Turner County Herald

George H.W. Bush visited South Dakota while in office more often than any other President in the state’s history. A total of four visits while in office.

Bush’s first visit as President was on September 18, 1989, hosted by then-governor George Mickelson. The Sioux Falls visit lasted only a couple of hours and included a speech before a large audience at the Sioux Falls Arena.

September 19, 1989 edition of the Rapid City Journal
Rapid City Journal
/
Newspapers.com
September 19, 1989 edition of the Rapid City Journal

On July 3rd, 1991, George H.W. Bush celebrated Independence Day by speaking at Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the Black Hills marking his second trip to the state. President Bush re-dedicated the Memorial on the 50th anniversary of completion of the national treasure. The President was accompanied on this trip by his wife Barbara who toured the Black Hills following the dedication speech.

The third visit was a campaign stop on September 2, 1992. Bush delivered a Labor Day Speech on the farm of Jeff and Susan Kapperman near Montrose, South Dakota.

September 3, 1992 edition of the Argus Leader

The fourth and final visit by Bush 41, was on October 25, 1992, just one week before that year's Presidential election His main theme was the farm prices and the accomplishments of his administration during the previous 4 years.

October 26, 1992 edition of the Rapid City Journal
Rapid City Journal
/
Newspapers.com
October 26, 1992 edition of the Rapid City Journal

Bush also made a trip as Vice President in 1982 making his total visits to South Dakota five.

April 17, 1982 edition of the Argus Leader
Argus Leader
/
Newspapers.com
April 17, 1982 edition of the Argus Leader

17 Presidents have visited South Dakota through the years.

William Howard Taft

William Howard Taft visiting Miller, South Dakota
South Dakota Historical Society
/
South Dakota Digital Archives
William Howard Taft visiting Miller, South Dakota
William Howard Taft's arrival in Pierre, South Dakota
South Dakota Historical Society
/
South Dakota Digital Archives
William Howard Taft's arrival in Pierre, South Dakota

Teddy Roosevelt

President Theodore Roosevelt and Presidential Chuckwagon, Edgemont, South Dakota
South Dakota State Historical Society
/
South Dakota Digital Archives
President Theodore Roosevelt and Presidential Chuckwagon, Edgemont, South Dakota

Calvin Coolidge

Calvin Coolidge dedication of Mt. Rushmore. Gutzon Borglum in the rear with mustache
South Dakota Historical Society
/
South Dakota Digital Archives
Calvin Coolidge dedication of Mt. Rushmore. Gutzon Borglum in the rear with mustache
Calvin Coolidge mounted on Mistletoe
South Dakota Historical Society
/
South Dakota Digital Archives
Calvin Coolidge mounted on Mistletoe

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Franklin D. Roosevelt at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Rapid City, South Dakota
South Dakota Historical Society
/
South Dakota Digital Archives
Franklin D. Roosevelt at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Rapid City, South Dakota

Dwight Eisenhower

John F. Kennedy

Richard Nixon

June 4, 1969 edition of the Argus Leader
Argus Leader
/
Newspapers.com
June 4, 1969 edition of the Argus Leader
June 4, 1969 edition of the Rapid City Journal
Rapid City Journal
/
Newspapers.com
June 4, 1969 edition of the Rapid City Journal

Gerald Ford

August 30, 1976 edition of the Rapid City Journal
Rapid City Journal
/
Newspapers.com
August 30, 1976 edition of the Rapid City Journal

Ronald Reagan

September 30, 1986 edition of the Argus Leader
Argus Leader
/
Newspapers.com
September 30, 1986 edition of the Argus Leader

Bill Clinton

September 21, 1996 edition of the Argus Leader
Argus Leader
/
Newspapers.com
September 21, 1996 edition of the Argus Leader

George W. Bush

August 16, 2022 edition of the Argus Leader
Argus Leader
/
Newspapers.com
August 16, 2022 edition of the Argus Leader

Barack Obama

May 9, 2015 edition of the Argus Leader
Argus Leader
/
Newspapers.com
May 9, 2015 edition of the Argus Leader

Donald Trump

July 4, 2020 edition of the Rapid City Journal
Rapid City Journal
/
Newspapers.com
July 4, 2020 edition of the Rapid City Journal

Below is a list of U.S. Presidents who have visited South Dakota while in office:

  • William McKinley, 1899 
  • William Howard Taft in October 1911 
  • Theodore Roosevelt, April 1902 (After Presidency, Sept 1910) 
  • Woodrow Wilson, September 1919 
  • Calvin Coolidge, June-July & August 1927 
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt, August 1936 
  • Harry Truman, May 1948 
  • Dwight Eisenhower, June 1953 
  • John Kennedy, August 1962 
  • Richard Nixon June 1969, 
  • Gerald Ford, August and October 1976 
  • Ronald Reagan, September and October 1986 
  • George H.W. Bush, 1982 (as Vice-President), Sept., 1989, July 1991, Sept 1992 & Oct 1992 
  • Bill Clinton, September & November 1996, July 1999 (After Presidency, October 2006) 
  • George W. Bush, August 2002 
  • Barack Obama, May 2015 
  • Donald Trump, 2018, 2020 

This article was originally posted by Brian Gevik on December 10, 2018

Brent is the Digital Content Curator at South Dakota Public Broadcasting. He came to SDPB after spending over 20 years broadcasting on radio stations in Aberdeen, Pierre, Milbank, Sisseton, and Watertown as Brent Nathaniel. An Aberdeen area native, Brent is based in Watertown with his wife Bri and their cat Allie.