This giant Bean Boot on Flickr reminded me of other giganticized Maine icons. Like the huge potatoes depicted on postcards aboard wagons, railroad cars, and trucks (the last may well be an Idaho spud). Or the monstrous lobster claw in Winter Harbor. It was perhaps caught in this oversized lobster trap in Lincolnville.Let's not forget 35-foot-tall Paul Bunyan standing in Bangor. Though even Paul was put to shame by the 113-foot snowman in Bethel.
Though not a Maine icon, Eartha is definitely a tourist attraction as the "World's Largest Revolving/Rotating Globe."
Have I missed any?
17 comments:
Have I missed any?
I've heard rumors of a giant coffee pot. I'm thinking of going on a pilgrimage.
There is the big toolbox-bearing guy in Windham whose arm used to swing back and forth (a fond childhood memory from living there and coming home from out of town late in the evening to be welcomed by his friendly figure lit up in the night).
Good thing that snowman wasn't the Sta-Puft Marshmallow Man, or we might be in trouble!!!
What about the giant Native American on Route 1 in Freeport? I can't think of what's there now, but years ago it was Levinskys. I think the thing is still there as it's a landmark of sorts. The awe of his size was overtaken by the amusement provided by an arrow that someone shot into his chest.
Another Big Indian graces the skyline of Skowhegan.
How about the giant rhino statue on the Gorham campus of USM?
:)
Thanks guys! The "World's Largest Coffee Pot" in Island Falls is featured on this website. If you want eggs with that, you'll have to go to Pittsfield for the World's Largest Non-Stick Frying Pan.
Here are two webpages featuring the 62-foot-tall Skowhegan Indian. Freeport's 50-foot Big Indian (once in front of Levinsky's) can be seen here and here. This site says that "In the interests of political correctness, this Indian is now called 'MBNA' (Maine's Big Native American)"
I neglected to mention the Paul Bunyan statue that used to stand in front of Puiia's Hardware in Rumford when I was a kid. It's since been moved to another location nearby. He was actually a "Muffler Man" masquerading as a woodsman.
RoadsideAmerica.com mentions a "Big Chicken statue. At least 12 feet tall, actually between Monmouth and Manchester." I don't recall seeing such a bird on the main routes. Maybe I don't drive on the right roads.
We also have a giant fisherman in Boothbay Harbor, and a giant lobster at The Taste of Maine—"Route One Wool'ich, Just North of Baaath."
I had no luck finding photos online of Michelle's "toolbox-bearing guy" or Gryphon's rhino.
Ruth & Wimpy's in Hancock Maine (on route 1) has a 20 foot fiberglass lobster named "Wilbur". Photo can be found here.
Eastport Maine has a giant fisherman statue, this photo makes it seem far bigger than it's roughly 25 foot height though.
There's a building on route 3 on the way to Bar Harbor that was once painted to look like a giant wheel of swiss cheese; though it hasn't been painted such in decades, it's still known only as "the cheese house" when giving directions in the area. I can't find a photo of the historic pigmentation, though.
Love your site, visit every week. Maybe I"ll get a blogger account so I don't have to be anonymous...
-Tedlick
Another memory comes rushing back! On Route 3 above Bar Harbor there was also a motel with a huge moth stationed outside. I think it might have been called the Green Moth Motel, or something like that.
Gryphon-- A giant rhino?!! Chris W, have you been holding out on me?!
Chris D-- Do you think that giant moth is still there? I would love to see it. Kind of like the Maine version of Mothra? Ha ha... protecting the Bar Harbor coastline against Godzilla...
Giant cheesehouses!!! I remember one from when I was a kid but have no idea where it was. I just remember that we bought really delicious frosted animal crackers there. The things my brain remembers from childhood... giant TV repairmen and frosted animal crackers from the cheesehouse.
There was a giant chicken on Route 1 in Biddeford/Saco for a while (was it near the Taco Bell? a bunch of little minimall plazas are nearby) but the chicken restaurant that owned it closed the other year, before I got my picture taken with it. I had to make do with one I found outside of Chestertown NY the other year instead. It was a pretty good substitution, overall.
Tedlick-- Hey there! :) Glad you have fun on our site. That giant fisherman sure looks like he's pondering whether to flap that fish onto someone's head... I myself am very fond of giant lobsters. There is a picture of me about to be devoured by one in my travelog about Lake George. It comes in handy surprisingly often.
The memory is fuzzy, but I seem to recall that the Bar Harbor moth was kept in a cage--whether to protect the moth or to protect the motel guests I can't say.
Another one comes to mind-- a giant plywood fisherman at the Stinson Seafood plant in Prospect Harbor. I think it's still there, too. here is a picture found via Google.
-Tedlick
Another one comes to mind-- a giant plywood fisherman at the Stinson Seafood plant in Prospect Harbor. I think it's still there, too. here is a picture found via Google.
-Tedlick
I know this is real late since you guys originally posted this but does anyone remember the gigantic fisherman in rain gear (yellow slicker) in Kittery as you came across the (now) Sara Mildred Long bridge? I remember hat as a kid.
Keith
Keith- I don't remember it myself, and I can't seem to find any mention of it anywhere online, which seems strange. You'd think a giant yellow-clad fisherman would be taken note of somewhere, even if only as a historical mention, darn it! Well, I'll keep my eye peeled.
I remember that guy too, can't find anything about him. He just sort of disappeared around the time of the Piscataqua
bridge.
When I was a kid, before the Piscataqua Bridge, when the only way in from Portsmouth was the Route 1 bridge, that giant fisherman advertising Maine Sardines was a welcome landmark. I knew I was home once I saw him. Don't know what happened to him after the completion of i-95.
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