This Paul Bunyan statue is the largest in the world, standing about 49 feet tall. This is the third version. The first was made in 1946 of papier mache which only lasted a year. The second was bigger, made of fiberglass, and took four years to create. The current version is from 1961. Like the Paul Bunyan in Brainerd, MN, this statue waves, winks, rotates his head, and talks interactively with the crowds. In 2008, I only witnessed him talking.

Babe was built in 1949 and is 35 feet tall to the tips of his horns. The statue was originally installed on the other side of the main building. Although oxen are castrated bulls, this Babe is intact. At one time, Babe's head nodded and smoke blew out his nostrils. This frightened children so that practice was stopped. In 1983, bracing was installed that ended the head bobbing. In 2007, Babe's head fell off and was repaired. I have read of plans to add oxen sound effects but Babe was silent when I was there in 2008. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]