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Bear Statues (page 4)

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University of Central Arkansas
Conway, AR
The black bear is the University of Central Arkansas's mascot. This rather crude, concrete bear was built around 1950. It is painted purple which is the school's color. The statue was the subject of vandalism by rival schools who painted the statue with their own colors. Therefore, this statue has many layers of paint. It is installed next to Bear Hall. The bear holds an open book between his paws.

I believe this carved wooden bear is from the late 1990s. It is installed in a building next to the stadium.

The small bronze bear appears to be modern.

Black Bear
Northome, MN		 Wigwam
Willie's [gone]
Harrisville, MI		 Bear
Owosso, MI		 Bear
Dallas, GA		 Bear
Amarillo, TX		 Bear and Bigfoot
St. Petersburg, FL
The carved wood Black Bear in Northome has been downtown since at least 1995. It is about 15 feet tall. Northome is known as the Big Bear Capitol and holds an annual Bear Fest. [map]

This carved wooden Bear at Wigwam Willie's had mechanical paws with guns that moved up and down. This photo is from 2011. By 2015, the business and statue were gone.

The Bear in Owosso stands next to the Owosso Carpet Center. The statue was installed by the carpet store that was here previously. It is cemented in place to prevent it from being stolen for pranks. The bear was wearing an apron and chef's hat for Father's Day when this photo was taken in 2011. The store dresses him in different outfits throughout the year. In 2005, a naming contest was held. The bear was named Oliver after James Oliver Curwood, a famous author from Owosso. This type of bear statue is usually found at mini golf courses. [map]

This fiberglass Bear statue in Dallas was previously located at Magic Forest in Lake George, NY. It is now located at Atlantis Plumbing. [map]

The Bear in Amarillo is located at Today's Style Too which has many other animal statues for sale. The aluminum bear was created with a mold which was based on the vintage fiberglass versions. [map]

The Bear and Bigfoot in St. Petersburg were installed around 2018 in front of the Gator's Corner thrift store. [map]

Martin
West Yarmouth, MA
(now South Yarmouth, MA)		 Bear Cub?
Fort Myers, FL
Martin, a concrete grizzly bear statue, was created by T.J. Neil in 1975. Neil was a local artist that produced many statues for mini golf courses and other businesses. This nine-foot-tall bear statue was located in front of the ZooQuarium which was originally known as the Aqua Circus. There was a dolphin statue located there as well. These photos are from 2011. The ZooQuarium closed in 2013 but the statue was still there. In 2017, the statue was moved down the road to Yarmouth Country Cabins. [map]

This statue appears to be a Bear Cub wearing a Brodie helmet or doughboy helmet which were worn by soldiers during World Wars I and II. I assume that this statue represents a cartoon character and it appears that he held a flag. Does anyone know what character he represents? He was probably built by John Domanski who created the two rooster statues which are also displayed in front of his property. All three statues have been there since at least 2008. [map]

Bear
St. Louis, MO		 Bears
Foley, AL
This Bear in St. Louis is installed at Hoods Discount Home Center along with several other animal statues. This sit-in-his-hand design is the same as the Foley statue. They may have been producted by the same company that made these gorilla statues in St. Petersburg, FL and Branson, MO. [map]

These Bears are located at Hoods Discount Home Center in Foley. There are around 9 locations in the chain which has been selling concrete architectural products, statues, pots, furniture, etc. This location has been operating since at least 2008. [map]

Bear [gone]
Downington, PA		 Mother Bear
Tulsa, OK		 Bear
Weaverville, CA		 Bear Fountain
Berkeley, CA
The Bear sculpture in Downington is located at the entrance of Firecreek Restaurant & Bar. This photo is from 2010. Firecreek closed in 2013. Stella Rossa Ristorante opened soon after that and was renamed Barra Rossa in 2014. The bear statue is gone.

The chainsaw wood-carved Mother Bear statue in Tulsa was created by Clayton Cross. It stands in front of the John Knox Presbyterian Church in tribute of Chelsea Rose Murphy. [map]

The chainsaw wood-carved Bear statue in Weaverville is installed in front of the Whispering Pines Mobile Home Park. It has been there since at least 2007. [map]

This Bear Fountain was built in 1911. It was destroyed in 1958 when it was hit by a truck. It was recreated in 1996. The bears were decorated for the Christmas/Hanukkah season when these photos were taken in 2014. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Bear
Berkeley, CA
This 10-foot-tall, cast bronze Bear sculpture is known as "Sturdy the Bear." It was created by Douglas Van Howd in 1996. It is installed in front of the California Memorial Stadium and the University of California at Berkeley. The school's sports teams are known as the California Golden Bears. [map]

Bear
Los Angeles, CA
This bronze Bear sculpture was created by Billy Fitzgerald and installed at the University of California at Los Angeles in 1984. The school's mascot is the Bruin. [map]

Panda
Dallas, TX		 Pandas
Colma, CA
This resin Panda sculpture was created by Richard Orlinski and installed in Dallas around 2020. An identical sculpture was installed in Paris in 2017. Orlinksi has produced these Pandas in blue, black, and white as well. [map]

These Pandas were installed in front of the Golden Hill Memorial Park & Funeral Home around 2022. [map]

Grumpy Bear's Retreat
Inyokern, CA
Grumpy Bear's Retreat features this concrete bear reclining while fishing.

Smokey Bear
International Falls, MN
This Smokey Bear statue stands 26 feet tall and is accompanied by two smaller cubs. This fiberglass statue was created by Gordon Displays in 1954. Smokey has been dressed in different shirts over the years. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. [map]

Smokey Bear
Hill City, SD
This 30-foot-tall, wooden Smokey Bear statue was made by Jordan and Jarrett Dahl. It was installed in 2021 in front of Dahl's Chainsaw Art with many other creations. There is a Bigfoot at their location in Keystone, SD. [map]

Smokey Bear
Capitan, NM		 A&W
Great Root Bear
Lancaster, WI		 A&W
Great Root Bear
Neillsville, WI		 A&W
Great Root Bear
Mentone, CA

Stoney Bear
Robertsdale, AL
2010: 2019:
This wood-carved Smokey Bear statue is located in front of the Smokey Bear Restaurant. It has been there since at least 2007. Capitan has been associated with Smokey since 1950 when a badly burned bear cub was found after a forest fire in the nearby mountains. He was the original Smokey. [map]

There is another statue inside the Smokey Bear Museum in town.

The A&W Great Root Bear character was introduced in Canada in 1974. The "Rooty" mascot wasn't used in the U.S. until later. I don't know how many of these statues were made but I don't think A&W is making them anymore. I don't know of any other locations that still have these. There is or was a similar statue in Bangkok, Thailand. [Lancaster map]; [Neillsville map]

A modern statue in Mentone was installed around 2019. I believe these are still being produced and there are others around the country. [map]

Stoney Bear is a repainted A&W Great Root Bear statue. It stood in front of Stoneworks, a building materials business. The business was closed by 2016. Stoney is a little dirty now but he's still there. [map]

More Bears:
Bear (Anchorage, AK)
Bear (Talkeetna, AK)
Bears (Mariposa, CA)
Smokey the Bear (Washington, DC)
Bear (Brooksville, FL)
Bear (Miami, FL)
A&W Great Root Bear (Greenwood, IN)
Bear (Haughton, LA)
Smokey the Bear (Kittery, ME) [map]
Bear (Union, MI)
Bear (Hysham, MT)
Bear (Bigfork, MT)
Bear (Bear Grass, NC) [map]
Smokey the Bear (Raleigh, NC)
A&W Bear (Seaside Heights, NJ)
Bear (Canton, OH)
Smokey the Bear (Columbus, OH)
A&W Great Root Bear (Union City, OH)
Topiary Bear (Sandy, OR)
Smokey the Bear (Timberline Lodge, OR)
Standing Bear (Bushkill, PA)
Bear Mouth Entrance (Pigeon Forge, TN)
Standing Bear (Pigeon Forge, TN)
Bear (Emporia, VA)
Bears (Everett, WA)
Bear (Barrackville, WV)

Bear (Jasper, AB)
Bear (St. Albert, AB)
Smokey the Bear (Revelstoke, BC)
Bear (Boissevain, MB)
Bear & Fish Fountain (Gravenhurst, ON)
Begging Bear (Guelph, ON)
Black Bear (Kapukasing, ON)
Black Bear (Parry Sound, ON)
Three Bears Fishing (Sault Ste. Marie, ON)
Winnie the Pooh (White River, ON)
Koala Bear (Victoria, AU)

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