Santa Claus - Santa Claus, IN
N 38° 06.942 W 086° 54.606
16S E 507880 N 4218656
Restored statue originally built in 1935
Waymark Code: WMHVV9
Location: Indiana, United States
Date Posted: 08/17/2013
Views: 4
In the small town of Santa Claus, IN, there is a variety of attractions themed around Christmas and more notably, Santa Claus. This Roadside Attraction found on Roadside America is the world's oldest statue of Santa Claus.
The statue was built in 1935 and dedicated on Christmas day of that year. It was to be the center point of a larger place called Santa Claus Park. Santa Claus Park was to be built to contend for business with rival local business, Santa's Candy Castle and Santa Claus Town. Neither place ever got built like envisioned, but the centerpieces of both parks are still standing and attractions for the town nearly 80 years later.
The statue fell into very poor shape through the years of neglect. In 2011, the Koch family purchased the land that at one time was to be Santa Claus Park. They moved the Santa Claus Museum to the location, relocated a couple old buildings to the location as well (the original Post Office and a 1880's church). They renovated the statue making this a very nice "park" of historic attractions.
TITLE: Santa Claus
ARTIST(S): Carl A Barrett
DATE: 1935
MEDIUM: concrete
CONTROL NUMBER: IAS IN000279
Direct Link to the Individual Listing in the Smithsonian Art Inventory: [Web Link]
PHYSICAL LOCATION:
Located at the Santa Claus Museum in Santa Claus, IN. It is near the museum, the post office and right next to the church.
DIFFERENCES NOTED BETWEEN THE INVENTORY LISTING AND YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH:
none
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Visit Instructions:
Please give the date of your visit, your impressions of the sculpture, and at least ONE ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPH. Add any additional information you may have, particularly any personal observations about the condition of the sculpture.