Yvonne Glasgow
In Michigan, we have more than one giant Paul Bunyan statue, along with his friend, Babe the Blue Ox. Every state has at least one (and some have many) giant roadside attraction that people are shocked or surprised by.
When you get a chance to take a road trip, here are some of the large sights you’re going to want to see. Make sure your phone is charged or that you have your camera with you; your friends might not believe what you’re showing them.
The World’s Largest Ball of Twine
If you want to check out the largest ball of twine in the world, you have a few options. While that may not make sense (how can there be more than one?), the multitude of large twine balls were all created in different ways.
In Cawker City, Kansas, you’ll find the world’s biggest ball of twine that was created by a community. The town has a yearly event where folks come to add more twine.
The largest ball of twine created by a single person is in Darwin, Minnesota. The heaviest ball of twine is in Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin. And, the largest ball of nylon-based twine is in Branson, Missouri.
The World’s Largest Crucifix
In the northern lower peninsula of Michigan, you will find the largest crucifix in the world, Located at Cross in the Woods in Indian Rivers. The statue of Jesus itself measures 31-feet high and is attached to a giant cross.
There are masses held at the cross; there is an indoor church as well. You can visit the gift shop, a multitude of outdoor shrines, and the doll museum while you’re there.
World’s Largest Rocking Chair
Strangely enough, there are large chairs all over the place, and Roadside America has a list of all of the ones in the United States, including the world’s largest office chair. The thing is, when you look for large tourist attractions, everybody wants to be the “world’s largest,” so you’ll often find more than one.
Casey, Illinois, boasts the largest rocking chair in the world, standing at 56.5 feet tall. They weren’t the first to get the title, and may not be the last. While this one was completed in 2015, the world’s oldest giant rocking chair, which is only 21 feet tall, was the world’s largest in 1990.
The World’s Largest Basket
If you love picnics, you may want to visit the giant picnic basket in Newark, Ohio. Why is there a giant basket in this town? Well, it’s actually a building and has offices in it.
The giant basket was initially built as the headquarters for Longaberger Basket Company, and it stands seven stories high. Ready to be shocked? The basket building is “192 feet long and 126 feet wide at the bottom, spreading to 208 feet long and 142 feet wide at the roofline,” according to the listing on Roadside America.
World’s Largest Bottle of Catsup
Whether you call it catsup or ketchup, there’s a giant bottle of it (well, it’s actually a water tower) in Collinsville, Illinois. The giant bottle, with its water tower base, stands 170-feet tall (the bottle itself is 70-feet tall). It was built by Brooks Tomato Products Company to hold 100,000 gallons of water.
World’s Largest Six-Pack of Beer
Ready for a beer? Large bottles and cans of beer can be found at breweries all over the world, but none of those are quite like the six-pack located in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Initially, the giant beer cans were brandished in Old Style labels, but are now home to La Crosse Lager.
The massive sight of the giant six-packs is as awe-inspiring as the fact that they actually have beer in them! According to Atlas Obscura, the six-pack holds 688,200 gallons of beer.
World’s Largest Baseball Bat
Unless you’re Paul Bunyon, you won’t be using this Louisville Slugger to hit some balls. Located at the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory in Kentucky, this bat weighs an incredible 68,000 pounds. It’s also 120 feet tall.
The museum also has a giant glove made from limestone that kids can play on. Here’s an online tour of the museum and factory:
World’s Largest Thermometer
You won’t want to take your temperature with the giant thermometer in Baker, California. This huge thermometer doesn’t tell you the actual temperature but is instead an electric sign erected from steel that serves as a reminder of the record temperature of 134 degrees Fahrenheit (it stands 134-foot tall) that was recorded in 1913 in Death Valley.
The World’s Largest Light Bulb
Thomas Alva Edison Memorial Tower and Museum is home to the world’s largest light bulb. Light bulbs come in all shapes and sizes, but no other illuminating bulb is as big as the one standing atop the tower in Edison, New Jersey.
World’s Largest Paul Bunyan Statue
The mythology of Paul Bunyan is known all over the midwest portion of the US, so it’s not surprising that many states would erect statues in the giant man’s honor. The largest one of these statues is located in Akeley, Minnesota. It’s a good thing Paul is kneeling!
The statue stands about 25 feet high in kneeling position. You can get a look at him in this brief video:
This is just a small glimpse at some of the giant things you can find all over the US. Whether you want to look up at a humungous Paul Bunyon or sit in a giant chair, there’s a big thing for everyone out there.
