Falkland Islands Totem Pole

Head to the Falkland Islands, and there’s a chance you may see a small reminder of your hometown, no matter how far away it is, thanks to the various travelers who’ve left their marks on this unusual “totem pole.”

This quirky roadside attraction has been dubbed the Falkland Islands Totem Pole. It was initially started by British troops deployed to the Falklands to protect the islands from further aggression after the end of the Falklands War in 1982.

The deployed troops made mockup signs with the name of their hometowns and their distances from the Falklands. They then attached their handiwork to an old power line pylon, forming an unusual, unplanned piece of outsider art.

It’s a tradition that still carries on today. Since the soldiers first tacked their hometown tributes to the tower, a number of visitors to the islands have added their own contributions. Tourists on holiday and scientists passing through on their way to various Antarctic research sites have also added signs for their hometowns.