World's Largest Turtle

This has got to be one of the coolest things I've seen. It is the world's largest turtle made entirely of wheel rims. It is located in Dunseith North Dakota on ND hwy 3 just north of the intersection with ND 5. His name is W'eel and he is made out of over 2000 wheel rims. His head alone weighs 1 ton. I didn't know this until I got home but apparently you can make the head bob up and down. I wish I knew that before because that would have been fun to do. This was the last world's largest I got to see on my trip to Minneapolis and I think it was the best one to end with. I loved it!

World's Largest Bird house

The world's largest bird house is in Audubon, Minnesota. It really was not very spectacular. I think I could make a bird house bigger than this one. I won't though because I don't like birds and don't want to give them a place to live but I could. It is located behind the only bar in town beside the liqour store :) I didn't know where it was at first and drove around trying to find it then I saw a woman outside smoking so I thought I would ask her. She wasn't from Audubon and had no idea what I was talking about but suggested I go in and ask the waitress. As I was walking to the door the woman asked again what I was looking for then told me there was a bird house around the corner but it wasn't very big. I went to check it out and turns out that's what I was looking for. The woman and I both agree it shouldn't be a world's largest but it is.

World's Largest Turkey

My next stop was to Frazee, Minnesota to see the world's largest turkey. Well technically it is the second world's largest because the first one went up in flames in 1998 while people were repairing it getting it ready for Turkey Days Festival. Only a few months later the town of Frazee built a new Big Tom. He is located on top of a hill in Lions Park on the southwest side of town off of hwy 29 on route 10. Big Tom is 22 feet tall. He's one big turkey!

World's Largest Loon

The world's largest loon is in Vergas, Minnesota located in City Park on the north shore of long lake on hwy 228. I've decided to name the loon Larry. Larry is 20 feet tall. He was paid for by the fire department in dedication to the town postmaster. I'm not really sure what a postmaster is but I think it has to do with the post office, that's just my guess though. When I was there I met a couple also visiting Larry and touring world's largest things, but only in Minnesota. They had a very fancy expensive camera and for some reason trusted me to take their picture with it. I really thought that I was going to drop it because I'm not the most graceful person and I was thinking I would have to make a quick get away because there is no way I can afford to pay for it. Luckily nothing happened. They were a nice couple though and had told me that one of them was on their second trip seeing all the world's largest in Minnesota because she saw them all when she was a kid and loved them. I think that's awesome.

World's Largest Clothes Pin

About 2 seconds down the road from the foot is the clothes pin. Maybe I should pay a little more attention when I am driving and I wouldn't miss these things :) It's a giant old style clothes pin. After I found it I searched the town again and couldn't find the doorknob or the electric cord plug. I guess I'll have to go back again to Vining one day with someone so that they can help me find the other 2 world's largest.

World's Largest Foot

The foot is in Vining, Minnesota as well. Now it frustrates me thinking about it but the man who built all these sculptures in town had a twisted sense of humour I think. It probably frustrates me because I would have done the same thing :) After I visited the park I drove around town trying to find the other sculptures and couldn't find them. It wasn't because the town was super huge or anything I think the population was less then 100. I just think the man hid all the sculptures and wanted you to go on a scavenger hunt for them. I gave up after a while and started driving to my next destination. About 5 minutes down the road I started debating whether or not I should turn around, go back and try again. I did. When I was driving back into town I found the world's largest foot. How I didn't see this I don't know. It was on hwy 210 and I must have drove right past it. There is no information on any of the sculptures in Vining but I've searched on the internet and there is no other sculptures like them so they have to be the world's largest.

World's Largest Square Knot

So my next stop was to Vining Minnesota. I was really excited for this because there was supposed to be a park full of sculptures. There should have been 6 world's largest in this town. I only found 4. Then I realized when I got home one is actually not a world's largest. That sucks but it was still interesting.

The park in Vining is called Nyberg Sculpture Garden and it is on front street which is just off hwy 210. There are a lot of sculptures in the park but not all of them are world's largest, turns out only one is. That would be the square knot. I can't find any info about it but I know there is not another one out there. All I can say is that it is taller than me and that's a pretty big knot lol.

World's Largest Fishing Bobber

I actually think this one is kind of a cheat but oh well I'll let it slide, I guess. It is actually a water tower that the town no longer uses. The fishing bobber is in Pequot Lakes, Minnesota at 4638 Country Road 11. They call it Paul Bunyan's fishing bobber. I couldn't find any statistics on it but it's pretty big I'd say and I haven't heard of another one to compare it to. I must admit it really wasn't that exciting to see. The amusing part was that there was a little park beside it with 'Paul Bunyan's chair' and I wanted my picture on it so I set my timer and had to run at it and try to jump up. As I was doing it I hurt my arm trying to pull myself up fast enough to beat the timer and then hurt my leg when I jumped down. Not until I was finished with the picture did I realize that people were looking at me strange as they drove by. I can't be the first person to have done that.

World's Largest Dala Horse

The world's largest dala horse is located Mora, Minnesota on South Union Street next to the pool. I couldn't find it at first. I drove around 3 times before I stopped and asked someone working at a gas station where it was and at first they didn't know what I was talking about but then the light bulb came on. I've decided to name it Dolly. Dolly is 22 feet tall, 17 feet long, 6 feet wide and weighs 3 000 lbs. When I was taking my picture with Dolly a woman was driving by and laughed at me. I'm guessing not a lot of people stop to see her which is a shame she's gorgeous! lol

World's Largest Ball of Twine

Now this one seems to have a lot of controversy so I must tell you that it is in fact the world's largest ball of twine made by one man. There is a larger ball of twine but it was made by several people. The one I saw is in Darwin, Minnesota on 1st street next to the water tower. It is 12 feet around and weighs 17, 400 lbs. It was made by Francis A. Johnson. Francis started wrapping his ball of twine in March 1950 and would wrap for 4 hours every day. I'm not sure many days he wrapped for but I'm guessing a lot. That is definitely dedication. Darwin is very proud of this creation and has even created twine ball day which I missed by 2 days. It kind of looked like it was fun, I wish I could have stayed to see what festivities were going to happen. Maybe one day I'll go back just for twine ball day!

World's Largest Crow

My second last stop before I arrive in Minneapolis was Belgrade, Minnesota to see the world's largest crow. This one was a hard one to find because of construction. The main road that should have taken me straight there was closed because of a bride out so I had to take more detours to get here and it's not anywhere near anything. Belgrade is kind of out in the country. The crow or as I have named him Curtis the crow is perched in Belgrade Centennial Memorial Park on hwy 71 just south of hwy 55. Curtis himself is 18 feet tall and 31 feet long. Getting his picture was kind of tough because the sprinklers were on all around him and I had to dodge and weave through them all to get a good angle. Luckily it was a nice warm summer day so I didn't mind if I got a little wet.

World's Largest Viking

After I left Fergus Falls I headed to Alexandria, Minnesota to see Big Ole the world's largest viking. He is located at the north edge of downtown in Central Park. Big Ole is 28 feet tall. He has been through many accidents in his life. Once in 1967 he was dressed up for the Christmas holidays and someone fired a flaming arrow and Big Ole caught on fire. Another time his sword was snapped off. Then a windstorm came and made him lean. And lastly he was lying down getting repaired and was partially crush by a snow covered roof that collapsed. Even though he's been through so much he is a viking and won't let anything stop him from standing proud :) When I saw him I was nearing the end of my day and was getting tired therefore getting a little silly and thought it was amusing that I could see up his 'skirt' lol Also I thought it was funny that the town had put up a little photo deck where I guess you get the best picture of him.

World's Largest Otter

This was the next stop on my trip. The world's largest otter is in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. It is on Grotto Park drive in Adams park just south of hwy 49. His name is Otto (surprize, surprize) and he is 40 feet long. It is right beside some water, I don't know if it's a river, lake or whatever. I didn't stay long to check it out because there was a flock of Canadian geese eyeing me up ready to attack at any time. So I got out of there as fast as possible. I thought it would be fun to climb the otter and slide down it's tail but there is a sign that says you can't climb it boo :( That usually doesn't stop me but the geese were freaking me out. I have heard rumours that there is a larger otter close to this one but I haven't been able to find any information on it so for now Otto is the world's largest otter.

World's Largest Prairie Chicken

I had to take another detour to get to the prairie chicken. I must say I prefer back roads in my own country because if I get lost here...I'm really lost and it's a little bit scarier. All I have to say is thank goodness for my GPS :) It is actually right beside I-94 but because I detoured away from the highway to see Pelican Pete I had to detour my way back. The prairie chicken is in Rothsay, Minnesota on center street. If you take the exit to Rothsay and turn your head to the right...it's right there. It is 13 feet tall, 18 feet long, and weighs 9000 lbs. It's in a nice little area with picnic tables and stuff so I stopped for lunch. But I've got to say this is the ugliest monuments I've seen yet.

World's Largest Pelican

This was my last day of traveling before I arrived in Minneapolis and it was a really long day. I had 6 world's largest things to see and it seemed like every place I wanted to go had detours because of construction. The first thing I did get to see was the pelican in Pelican Rapids, Minnesota. It stands at the base of the Mill Pond dam on the Pelican River, right downtown on hwy 59. It is set a little back from the road by the post office. I had to stop and ask someone where it was but don't worry the town is small enough everyone knows what you are talking about. His name is Pelican Pete and he is 15 1/2 feet tall. I kind of think he looks evil. His eyes look like he's about to attack the kid fishing beside him. Pete is a very popular place for people to fish because the fish get thrown around by it's base and get disoriented which makes it easier for people to catch. That's probably the only place I would ever catch anything because I suck at fishing...I could be bad though because I don't like to touch the worm or the fish...just maybe that's the problem.

World's Largest Oil Can Stack

Before I even start on this one I'm soooo disappointed. I really was not impressed with it. I think I thought it would have been much cooler, why...I don't know. It is located at 15514 37th St Se, Casselton, North Dakota. It really is just a huge stack of empty oil cans. It originally was built beside a gas station but has since changed owners and been moved. It is 45 feet tall and 18 feet wide at the base. It might have been cooler if it wasn't 1/2 covered with a tarp. I don't know why there is a tarp on it but it is not as effective when it's covered up. It still makes me angry just thinking about it.

World's Largest Buffalo

I arrived in Jamestown, North Dakota after 9 hours of driving. Funny enough I didn't feel as tired as I did yesterday and I drove less yesterday. To get there you take the I-94 exit 258, then take US 281 north a short way to the first stop light, turn right at the big Pioneer Village sign. It is at the back of the village. The village is actually kind of cute. It's set up to look like a town back in the day. They had carriage rides and pony rides for the kids, plus you can also go in the little shops. They had live wild buffalo fenced in beside the world's largest monument. It was neat-o! :) The buffalo is 26 feet high, 46 feet long, and weighs 60 tons. This one doesn't have a name so I've decided to call it Bruce :)

World's Largest Sandhill Crane

I almost didn't get to see this because I forgot about it and didn't have it mapped out in my plans. Luckily I saw the sign for it in time. The world's largest sandhill crane is in Steele, North Dakota just off of I-94 on exit 200. You can see it from the highway. Her name is Sandy and no I didn't name this one. She is 40 feet tall and weighs 4 1/2 tons. This one is a fairly new one it was only built in 1999. I think it's the newest one I've seen so far.

World's Largest Holstein Cow

Oh man, it was a 6 1/2 hour drive from Moose Jaw to New Salem but finally I can say I would like to introduce you to Salem Sue! (I am starting to love that people have named the world's largest things. I think that I will name the ones that don't already have one) Sue lives on top of a hill in New Salem, North Dakota just off I-94. This is actually the second time I have seen Sue but this time I get to stop and see her instead of speeding by saying "Oh look there it is!" and hearing "What? Oh sorry we just 'missed' the exit" :) She is 38 feet tall, 50 feet long and weighs 12 000 lbs.

World's Largest Moose

I left the tepee at 2:15 pm and headed to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan to see the world’s largest moose and stay for the night. When I was almost to Moose Jaw I saw what looked like 2 transports that had an accident. The one had flipped many times and the front truck part was all smashed, police and EMS were already there. I would speculate that he hit the last trailer of another transport and lost control. The other truck looked fine, just the last trailer was knocked off. I arrived at my hotel in Moose Jaw at 5:40pm. I dropped my stuff off and then went to see the world’s largest moose. It is hilarious! I’m probably part of a select few that would find it funny but when you pull up to the moose all you see is it’s ass…and it’s balls lol. It is right beside Tim Hortons at the corner of 9th Street NW and Thatcher Drive. It’s not bad; it’s a giant moose. I don’t know why but it is fenced in, maybe so it won’t escape? I don’t know. His name is Mac and he is 32 feet tall and weighs 10 tons.

World's Largest Tepee

This summer I went on a road trip to Minneapolis to visit my brother and sister-in-law. Before I left I had mapped out all the world's largest things I could see on my way there and back. I was pretty pumped because I think there is about 20 things I get to see. Yay! I mean I was pumped because I got to see my family :)

Well I left Carstairs at 10:59am, which is surprising because I was early…only one minute early but still that’s pretty good for me. My first destination on my trip was Medicine Hat, Alberta to see the world’s largest tepee. I arrived at 2:02pm and I was very excited, not to see the tepee but because I really had to pee. I forgot that I was going to pack a roll of toilet paper so I could stop any time and go to the bathroom. I’ll have to remember tomorrow before I leave to steal, I mean borrow ;), the extra roll from the hotel. There is very few stops out in the prairies. The world’s largest tepee was pretty cool. It was just down the road from the visitor’s centre. I was quite surprised because there were a lot more people there than I expected. Granted I didn’t expect anyone to be there, but there were probably a dozen cars. It’s neat you can walk under it and there are different pictures of native things and little spots you can read. It’s not a covered, just the frame of a tepee. It is 215 feet high, 160 feet wide and and weighs 200 tons, you can definitely see it from a distance away.