President Barack Obama is headed to the Black Hills, sort of.

Sculptor David Adickes, whose Black Hills Presidential Park is just southwest of Lead, is taking his giant plaster sculpture of the 44th president on a cross-country tour as he heads for the Black Hills visitor venue.

Sometime around July 4, Obama will officiall join the other 42 presidential statues that are already on display in the park.

Here’s the official word from Presidential Park:

“The Park is an educational, art, and nature experience for adults, families, and school groups. Each Presidential bust has a biographical panel and state and national flags of their era placed beside them. All 42 statues of our nation’s presidents are chronologically arranged along beautiful, naturally gardened trails.”

Why will Obama be the 43rd sculpture when he’s the 44th president? Grover Cleveland, you recall, served as president twice. There’s no point in having two Cleveland statues.

The official schedule for the Obama tour:

Monday, June 15th – Willmar, Minnesota at 12 noon until 2 pm heading for Sioux Falls, South Dakota to spend the night.

Tuesday, June 16th – to Mitchell through Chamberlin and then to Rapid City, South Dakota to spend night there, in Keystone.

Wednesday, June 17th – Mt Rushmore, South Dakota.

Thursday, June 18th – to Sturgis, Spearfish and finally to Lead South Dakota, to the Presidential Suites Hotel.