Paul Bunyan - Akeley, Minnesota
Posted by: 
msrubble
N 47° 00.200 W 094° 43.832
15T E 368445 N 5206987
Large folk art sculpture of Paul Bunyan, along Minnesota State Highway 34 in Akeley.
Waymark Code: WM12Q2D
Location: Minnesota, United States
Date Posted: 06/29/2020
Views: 2
This roadside sculpture of Paul Bunyan is made of painted fiberglass and twine over rebar. The steel alone weighs 4.5 tons.
Kneeling, Paul is 33 feet high. If he were standing, he'd be about 50 feet tall. The Smithsonian has collected tourist brochures that call this the world's largest Paul Bunyan sculpture.
He is bearded, and is resting an axe on the ground. He wears a cap, red and black shirt, yellow suspenders, brown belt, brown lace-up boots, and blue pants.
Paul waits with his hand outstretched, along Minnesota Highway 34 in front of a park and visitor information center. A "selfie station" is provided to hold smartphones while getting a picture taken with the legendary lumberjack.
The visitor information center is housed in the Akeley Paul Bunyan Museum. (Akeley bills itself as the birthplace of Paul Bunyan.) Admission is free. Outside the museum is a large shelter with picnic tables.
This representation of Paul Bunyan was designed by Dean Krotzer in 1984. It took Dean months to construct, with the help of several relatives. The sculpture was dedicated in 1985, as part of Akeley's annual festival, Paul Bunyan Days.
Inscription on toe of proper right boot:
Dean ©
Krotzer
1984-85
Inscription on plate on axe blade:
PAUL BUNYAN-
PRESENTED BY
KROTZER'S
AND
AKELEY C & C
ARTISTS:
DEAN KROTZER (copyright symbol) 1984 #VA165-876
STEVEN KROTZER
JIM KROTZER
BRUCE KROTZER
RICK KROTZER
SAM KROTZER
PETER KROTZER
MIKE CARPENTER
1984-1985
TITLE: Paul Bunyan
ARTIST(S): Dean Krotzer, Steven Krotzer, Jim Krotzer, Bruce Krotzer, Rick Krotzer, Sam Krotzer, Peter Krotzer, Mike Carpenter
DATE: 1984
MEDIUM: Painted fiberglass and twine over steel
CONTROL NUMBER: IAS MN000350
Direct Link to the Individual Listing in the Smithsonian Art Inventory: [Web Link]
PHYSICAL LOCATION:
112 Broadway St W,
Akeley, Minnesota
DIFFERENCES NOTED BETWEEN THE INVENTORY LISTING AND YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH:
Inscription on toe of proper right boot: Dean (copyright symbol) Krotzer 1984-85
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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.