Franklin D. Roosevelt - Rapid City, SD
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beagle39z
N 44° 04.849 W 103° 13.506
13T E 642108 N 4882380
Visitors to Rapid City are greeted by the City of Presidents, a series of life-size bronze statues of our nation’s past presidents along the city’s sidewalks.
The project began in 2000 to honor the legacy of the American presidency.
Waymark Code: WMFACF
Location: South Dakota, United States
Date Posted: 09/19/2012
Views: 9
Franklin D. Roosevelt, Thirty-Second President of the United States - 1933-1945
When Franklin Roosevelt contracted polio in 1921, at age thirty-nine, it inspired his interest in medical philanthropy. When he heard about the therapeutic value of the thermal mineral baths at Warm Springs, Georgia, Roosevelt went there and ended up buying the site and creating a foundation in 1927. He persuaded his friend and New York City law partner Basil O’Connor to run it.
After Roosevelt became president in 1933, O’Connor co-coordinated Birthday Balls that took place on Roosevelt’s birthday each January and raised money for the care of polio patients. These were so successful that in 1938 they were merged into a nationwide organization, the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, later renamed the March of Dimes.
Roosevelt's terms as president were marked by bold moves to fight two of the largest threats to America and the world: the Great Depression and World War II. Also during Roosevelt’s term, the Social Security Act was created and prohibition was repealed.
Roosevelt is the only U.S. president to have served more than two terms of presidency.
The artist chose to depict President Franklin Roosevelt as he stood and presented himself to the nation during a time when he was suffering from the effects of polio. The artist wanted to show Roosevelt's determination to project the image of the strength and the will of the man despite his physical restraints.
Here he is shown delivering his famous "day which will live in infamy" speech.
Location: Corner of Main Street and 5th
Sculptor: Edward Hvlaka
Visit Instructions:
You must have visited the site in person, not online.