"The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota" by Weird Al Yankovic - Darwin, Minn.
Posted by: 
msrubble
N 45° 05.782 W 094° 24.610
15T E 389043 N 4994622
Yes, there really is a large ball of twine that is a tourist attraction in Minnesota!
Waymark Code: WMKKP2
Location: Minnesota, United States
Date Posted: 04/27/2014
Views: 3
In the Guinness Book of Records as the world's largest, this ball of twine was added on to by Minnesota carpenter Francis Johnson for 29 years, until it grew so large that it could only be handled with a block and tackle. For a time, the twine ball was displayed outdoors under a metal canopy at Johnson's home east of Darwin. After his death, the twine ball was moved to Darwin, where it is the centerpiece of a historical museum.
The twine ball is on display 24 hours a day, outdoors, in a wood and plexiglas shed. The Twine Ball Museum (free admission) has limited hours. There is a guestbook outside. Twine ball souvenirs can be also be purchased at the Blue Moose, across the street, when the museum is closed.
Vital Statistics:
- Number of builders: 1
- Years to build: 29
- Circumference: about 40 feet
- Height: 11 feet
- Weight: 17,400 pounds
Weird Al Yankovic gives the size of this twine ball as "twenty-one thousand, one hundred forty pounds of string." One sign on site gives the figure as 17,400 pounds; an interpretive display in the gazebo says the twine ball weighs in at "approximately 11 tons."
Darwin's gigantic ball of twine was ousted from the Guinness Book of Records in 1994. The new claimant, while larger, doesn't weigh as much. And it was added on to by a large group of people. So the signs around Darwin clarify that this is still the largest twine ball anywhere built by one person. It is certainly the biggest in Minnesota.