Statue of Liberty replica.

45-Foot-Tall Statue of Liberty (Gone)

Patriotic fervor is a virtue for citizens of Rapid City, South Dakota -- the largest city in the inspirational blast radius of Mount Rushmore. The town displays flags, touts country-loving attractions, and offers street corner tributes to every U.S. President. There's also this Statue of Liberty replica,.

Larger than most Liberties we encounter, the statue is at a location that is a little surprising, away from downtown, in a pocket north of I-90. Lady Liberty can be spotted behind a couple of budget chain motels, right next to Boston's Gourmet Pizza and Sports Bar.

The statue was bankrolled by the owner of the pizzeria, and unveiled on Oct. 28, 2014 (the 128th anniversary of Lady Liberty's dedication in 1886). It includes the base pedestal (19 ft. high) and the entire greenish robed woman (26 ft. high). The site was planned to eventually include an indoor waterpark named "Rippin' Rapids."

There's a bench at the base for photo ops, along with a tacked up sign that tells us that it is "Dedicated to those who live in the Black Hills and to all who visit -- from Bob and Cynthia Akers," followed by "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free."

The pizzeria and sports bar closed in early 2018, but Lady Liberty still "lifts her lamp beside the golden door" of the Black Hills -- for now.

45-Foot-Tall Statue of Liberty

Directions:: Northeast edge of the city. I-90 exit 59. Drive north on N. Lacrosse St. Turn right at the first stoplight onto E. Disk Drive. You'll see the statue ahead on the left.
Hours:: May 2019: statue gone.
Status:: Gone

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