In South Dakota, plans are underway to establish President Donald Trump’s envisioned National Garden of American Heroes within the Black Hills, close to Mount Rushmore. This initiative, however, has ignited opposition from Indigenous groups who regard the area as sacred.
A donation of 40 acres, nearly a mile from Mount Rushmore, has been proposed by a mining company. This location is where grand sculptures of four notable U.S. presidents are etched into granite. Governor Larry Rhoden of South Dakota expressed in a letter to Trump, “The Black Hills is an ideal location to realize the vision for the National Garden of American Heroes.” Rhoden emphasized that the project aims to honor American heroes while utilizing South Dakota’s scenic landscapes and the iconic Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
The Black Hills have a contentious history, having been a point of contention between South Dakota and tribal nations. The Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868 had recognized the land as belonging to the Sioux people but was taken over by the U.S. government for gold mining a few years later. In 1980, the Supreme Court ruled this act as a treaty violation, offering the tribes $1.3 billion in compensation, which the tribes refused, asserting their land rights.
Pete Lien & Sons, the mining company donating the land, has faced resistance from Indigenous communities, particularly due to a graphite drilling project near Pe’ Sla, a sacred Lakota site. The company’s involvement with theme park designer Storyland Studios to develop an attraction in the area is also opposed by Indigenous groups.
Taylor Gunhammer, representing the Indigenous advocacy organization NDN Collective, criticized the endeavors, stating, “It’s contradictory for Storyland Studios and Governor Rhoden to claim they’re preserving history while allowing Lien & Sons to jeopardize Pe’ Sla.”
Rhoden’s press secretary, Josie Harms, assured that the proposed garden “will not disrupt either state or tribal lands,” indicating the land is owned by Chuck Lien and his family. Pete Lien & Sons has not responded to requests for comments.
The garden is set to feature 250 statues of historical figures, with a target completion date set for July 4, 2026, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the United States. Although sculptor applications are due in July, Congress’ funding for the project remains uncertain, as the Senate has yet to approve the $40 million allocated by the U.S. House.
President Trump initially announced plans for the garden during his first term in 2020, amid heightened debates over Confederate statues and historical narratives prompted by the Black Lives Matter movement.
Trump had called for the garden to showcase statues of notable figures, including Amelia Earhart, Muhammad Ali, and Steve Jobs, as well as more contentious individuals like Christopher Columbus and Andrew Jackson. However, a specific location was never determined, and Congress did not allocate funds for the initial project.
The Department of Interior has stated that the garden project is in its “planning and discussion phase,” without specifying prospective sites or if other states have shown interest in hosting it.
Former Governor Kristi Noem previously offered land in the Black Hills for the garden, an offer that Rhoden reiterated in his letter, stressing its proximity to Mount Rushmore.
Additionally, South Dakota’s Republican Representative, Dusty Johnson, has expressed strong support by communicating his advocacy for situating this landmark in the Black Hills.
Darren Thompson, of the Sacred Defense Fund, emphasized the need for dialogue with Indigenous groups regarding the project, highlighting its cultural sensitivities and the historical claims Indigenous peoples have to the land.