Former South Dakota Governor and former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is now memorialized in bronze. A life-sized statue featuring Noem and her horse, Iceman, was unveiled on Friday in Pierre as part of the Trail of Governors installation.
The Trail of Governors features bronze statues of former state leaders located across the capital city. These statues are commissioned to document the service of those who have held the office, with funding provided entirely through private donations. Visitors can access biographical details about each governor via plaques and QR codes located at the sites.
During the ceremony, Noem remarked on the tradition of the project and shared stories about her time in public service. The statue was created by sculptor John Lopez, while a new official portrait of Noem, painted by artist David Uhl, was also revealed to the public.
Noem served as governor starting in 2019 before leaving to join the Trump administration. Her tenure in Washington included a role at the Department of Homeland Security, which ended following a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing regarding allegations of fund misuse. She currently serves as the Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas.