Paul Bunyan Statue

Paul Bunyan Statue, Bangor Dennis Jarvis on Wikipedia (Creative Commons)

Towering over Main Street since 1959, a 31-foot-high Paul Bunyan stands in front of the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine, claiming the city as his supposed birthplace, while establishing a bit of celebrity all its own.

This uniquely handsome Paul Bunyan statue was given to the city of Bangor by a New York group of builders in 1959 on their 125th anniversary. The giant statue is built from a metal frame covered in colorful fiberglass and is built to withstand hurricane-force winds. The statue claims to be the largest Paul Bunyan statue in the world. As in many cases of “world’s largest” things, it may be true, but verifying such a fact is a bit tough.

Regardless, it may also be the most handsome Bunyan in existence. In America, giant Paul Bunyan statues can be found all across the roadways, but many are fairly crudely sculpted roadside muffler men. However, the Bangor Bunyan is a notably detailed and jolly sculpt.

Paul Bunyan’s legend is a staple of American culture as a whole, but the Bangor Bunyan joined the larger cultural landscape when it came to life in Stephen King’s novel It. The beloved statue has also taken part in a number of local promotional events that see the figure don other clothes, such as a Shriner’s fez. In 2015 the original designer of the statue suggested that they add a giant ox to the site.

Know Before You Go

You can't miss the statue, as it looks directly down on Main Street, directly in front of the Cross Insurance Center and across the street from the Hollywood Casino. There is free parking nearby, but none directly at the statue itself.