South Dakota eager for Trump’s statue garden near Mount Rushmore despite local opposition
- South Dakota officials are advocating to build President Donald Trump's National Garden of American Heroes near Mount Rushmore on 40 acres donated by a mining company.
- The Black Hills have been a longstanding source of conflict because, although an agreement made in 1868 acknowledged the area as Sioux territory, the U.S. government took control of the land within a decade to exploit its gold resources.
- Republican Governor Larry Rhoden and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson expressed strong support, while Indigenous groups and activists like Darren Thompson and Taylor Gunhammer demand more consultation and oppose site disruption.
- Trump signed an executive order in 2021 calling for 250 statues of historical figures for the garden, timed to honor the nation's 250th birthday on July 4, 2026, with $40 million approved by the House.
- The Department of Interior says the garden project remains in planning stages, and Indigenous opposition signals ongoing tension over sacred land use and cultural preservation in the Black Hills.
51 Articles
51 Articles

South Dakota eager for Trump's statue garden near Mount Rushmore despite local opposition
Officials in South Dakota are pushing hard to build President Donald Trump’s proposed National Garden of American Heroes in the Black Hills near Mount Rushmore.
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