When Sioux Falls Turned Its Back On David and What Happened Next

The Statue of David by Michelangelo is widely regarded as one of the greatest works of art in history, particularly among sculptures. It stands 17 feet tall and was created by the renowned sculptor in the early 1500s, remarkably, out of a single block of marble.

In 1971, the statue was donated to the city of Sioux Falls (alongside a replica of the statue of Moses at Augustana) by former resident and inventor Thomas Fawick, for whom the park in downtown Sioux Falls is named. Fawick is a Sioux Falls legend who held patents on everything from golf clubs to his fabled 'Fawick Flyer', which you can see at the Old Courthouse Museum in town.

While many in town were proud to have such a historic replica within their city's borders, others were not so pleased.

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The Controversy Surrounding Sioux Falls Statue of David

The statue was designed by Felix de Weldon, the same man who made the iconic Iwo Jima Memorial in Washington, D.C. Yet, even before it was placed within the city, many were trying to stop it from going up in the first place.

The 17-foot-tall bronze replica was unveiled on October 12, 1973. A local Baptist minister penned a letter to the Sioux City newspaper, calling the statue "not art but sin." He predicted, "In the years to come, we can expect to see on the streets of Sioux Falls people going naked. We can expect immoral acts in the parks. Don't be surprised if God doesn't bring a flood or a tornado, or strike the statue with lightning. God will judge this city.

-Roadside America Website

Thankfully, the streets of Sioux Falls haven't seen an abundance of naked people since that prediction, unless you happen to be hanging around the downtown area at 2 am on a Saturday.

However, it wasn't all "a walk in the park" after the statue was erected at Fawick Park. Years of debate ensued, and eventually the David replica was taken down in 1997 due to what the city of Sioux Falls said were "environmental cleanup reasons". Yet, whatever cleanup was needed for David surely didn't require it to be placed in storage for over two years, according to this 1999 article.

Eventually, the statue was finally pulled out of storage and returned to the park. Rumors insist that it was decided that David be placed facing the river, so people wouldn't see his nakedness from the street. There have also been several attempts to cover his private parts over the years with things like diapers and, in at least one instance, leaves.

Despite the surprising controversy, the statue remains standing in Fawick Park to this day.

To learn a little more about the Statue of David in Sioux Falls, along with some of the other landmarks within the city's borders, check out the video from Through My Lens in the YouTube clip below.

Story Sources: City of Sioux Falls Website, B1027 Website, Michele Meester Blog, Statue of David Wiki Page, Minnesota Public Radio Website Archive, Roadside America Website