On October 23, 1911, President William Howard Taft was completing a 3-day visit to South Dakota. He gave a number of speeches addressing international concerns over peace. He arrived in Rapid City on the 21st, before traveling by train to visit Pierre, Huron, and Aberdeen.
State Historical Society documents Taft’s visit to the state as part of his travels by train from the west coast back to Washington DC. But along with his stops and speeches in larger towns. President Taft also made brief stops in smaller communities. And for many South Dakotans, it was their first chance to hear and host a sitting U.S. president.
Some of the State Historical Societies documentation of the visit includes these notes:
President Taft arrived in Edgemont at 6:50 am on Saturday, Oct. 21. The Lead Daily Call noted that “he was greeted by cheers, hand clapping, and waiving of handkerchiefs.”
20 miles away at Minnekata, “the president made a short speech while holding the 3-year-old daughter of the train conductor.”
He made an unscheduled stop in Hill City and then arrived in Deadwood at 12:25 p.m.. “where over 600 schoolchildren, waving American flags, greeted the president. One of the students presented the president with flowers.”
President Taft toured the 1,200-foot level of the Homestake Mine. He said, “I can see big buildings, battleships, and armies whenever I want, but it is only once in a lifetime that a person has an opportunity to see such things as these.”
While in Pierre, “he attended Methodist Church services with Governor Robert Vessey before making stops in Huron and Aberdeen.”
Taft spoke at the Northern Normal and Industrial School and during a banquet at the Aberdeen Commercial Club. Taft’s special train left Aberdeen near midnight concluding his 3-day visit to South Dakota on this day in 1911.
Production help is provided by Brad Tennant, Dakota Wesleyan University.
