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email: roadarch@outlook.com |
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| Water Animal Statues |
(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)
| Seal Crescent City, CA |
Harbor Seals Carpinteria, CA |
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This Seal in Crescent City is one of a pair installed at the entrance to Ocean World. [map]
These Harbor Seals were installed near the beach in 2009. [map] |
| Seal Springfield, IL |
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| This concrete Seal sculpture was created by Carl Rinnus for the Bel-Aire Manor Motel in Springfield. The motel opened around 1950 and this seal was probably installed there then. It originally stood in the middle of a fountain with water spurting from an ornamental flower on top of its nose. The seal was later moved near the swimming pool. The motel closed in 1995 and was demolished in 2015. The seal was saved and was installed at the Route 66 Motorheads Bar and Grill by 2021. For more, see this website. [map] |
| Harbie the Seal [gone] Cuba, MO |
Harbie the Seal Bisbee, AZ |
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Harbie the Seal was the mascot of Harbor Gasoline, a chain of gas stations in Los Angeles and Orange County. There may have been other stations in Washington and Oregon but I don't know if there were ever any of these statues used there. These Harbie statues originally held lanterns in their right hands. They hold a sponge in their left hands. There was originally one of these statues on top of the corporate headquarters in San Gabriel, CA. That statue is now in a private collection.
The Cuba Harbie was located at Bob's Gasoline Alley, a private collection of signs and other collectibles. "Sacramento, CA" was painted on the front of the seal's rock but it's not known how or when or even if this statue was located in Sacramento. I don't believe there were ever any Harbor gas stations there. There was also a 76 logo on the statue's hat that would not have been there originally. Bob Mullen passed away in 2020 and his collection was auctioned off. The Bisbee Harbie is now installed at Shady Dell. I don't know what happened to his back. The other Harbies that I have seen don't have this gap. |
| Harbie the Seals [gone] Garden Grove, CA |
Harbie the Seal [gone] Los Angeles, CA |
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There were two Harbie the Seals in Garden Grove at the entrance to CC Camperland-RV Park. These photos are from 2008. By 2011, these statues were gone. They are most likely the same statues in Carson, CA (see below).
The Harbie the Seal in Los Angeles stood in front of Sonny Alexander's Flowers when these photos were taken in 2008. He was sold shortly after that to a collector. |
| Harbie the Seal Portland, OR |
Harbie the Seal Hatch, NM |
Harbie the Seal Lancaster, CA |
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This Harbie the Seal in Portland came from a backyard in Beverly Hills, CA. The previous owner had six of these statues and left two statues behind when he moved. In 2011, the two statues were moved to this backyard in Portland. The owners plan to restore one of the statues. For more, see this website.
This Harbie the Seal in Hatch is displayed inside Sparky's restaurant. It is not known where in California it was located originally. This Harbie the Seal in Lancaster is installed on the roof of Crazy Otto's Diner. [map] |
| Harbie the Seals Carson, CA |
Harbie the Seal Ventura, CA |
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These two Harbie the Seals in Carson turned up at Back in the Day Classics in 2015. These statues are most likely the ones from Garden Grove described above with a fresh coat of paint. The owners had five of these statues and sold three of them before the store bought this pair. They were for sale when these photos were taken in 2015.
The Harbie the Seal in Ventura is part of a private collection. The lantern is not original. Although the Harbie the Seal at Mendenhall's Museum of Gas Pumps and Petroliana in Buellton, CA is missing the original lantern, I believe it shows the original colors of these statues. It also has an intact logo on the statue's hat. |
| Harbie the Seal Burbank, CA |
Harbie the Seal Van Nuys, CA |
Harbie the Seal Desert Hot Springs, CA |
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The Harbie the Seal in Burbank is located inside the Gordon R. Howard Museum.
The Harbie the Seal in Van Nuys is on display inside the Valley Relics Museum. The Harbie the Seal in Desert Hot Springs has been installed on the roof of Blair Station RV since at least 2007. [map] |
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More Seals:
Marine Life: 1, 2 (Rapid City, SD) [vintage; gone] Piloup (Riviere-du-Loup, QC) [map] |
| Sea Lion San Francisco, CA |
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| This Sea Lion sculpture is incorporates succulents. It was installed around 2020. There was previously a topiary crab sculpture here. This Sea Lion may have been created by the same artist, Jeff Brees. [map] |
| Sea Lion Sausalito, CA |
Joe the Sea Lion Lincoln City, OR |
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The original Sea Lion sculpture in Sausalito was created from concrete by Al Sybrian in 1957. It was replaced in 1966 with this bronze version. The sculpture was knocked from its base in 2023 and reinstalled in 2024. For more, see this website. [map]
Joe the Sea Lion came ashore in 1936 and became Lincoln City's mascot. The locals gave him back rubs with brooms and baths with hoses. This statue was installed in 2014. For more, see this website. [map] |
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More Sea Lions:
Old Ben (Avalon, CA) |
| Walruses Seattle, WA |
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| These Walruses was built in 1916 for the Arctic Club. The terra cotta walrus head sculptures are installed around the building. [map] |
| Bubbles the Manatee Homosassa, FL |
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| Bubbles the Manatee is located at the Visitor Center and Wildlife State Park. The fiberglass statue is about 30 feet long and was built in 2002 for the Bella Oasis Resort. It was moved here in 2012. [map] |
| Manatee Key West, FL | Manatee Marathon, FL | Manatee Daytona Beach, FL |
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The Manatee in Key West was created by George Carey. It was installed at the First State Bank of the Florida Keys in 2000. [map]
The Manatee in Marathon was installed at the Shady Palm Art Gallery around 2019. [map] The Manatee in Daytona Beach has been installed at the Big Shark Gift Shop since at least 2007. [map] |
| Salty the Seahorse Mattapoisett, MA |
Seahorse [gone] Thomasville, NC |
Seahorse La Jolla, CA |
Seahorse Seaside, CA |
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Salty the Seahorse was built around 1950. The Sea Horse Gift Shop it promoted is long gone. It is supposedly built of plywood and stands 38 feet tall. Several years after it was built, it was coated with fiberglass to protect it from the elements. At night, the seahorse's blue eye (it's only a one-sided figure) lights up. The Seahorse was restored in 2000. It wears a Santa hat during the Christmas season. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]
I'm highly suspicious that this photo of a seahorse built by International Fiberglass might be the one in Mattapoisett. Or the one in Mattapoisett might have another statue produced from the same mold. [photo from Terry Nelson] The Seahorse in Thomasville was part of the sign for the Sea Horse Nail Spa. When this photo was taken in 2010, the business was gone but this sign was still there. By 2014, the statue was gone. The Seahorse in La Jolla is installed on top of a mailbox in front of a residence. It was built in the early 1990s by the house's owner and a friend. The statue is made from rebar, chicken wire, plaster, and concrete. It is repainted every other year. [map] The Seahorse in Seaside is installed at the south entrance to town. It has been there since at least 2008. [map] |
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More Seahorses:
Greenville, TX |
| Conch Shell Islamorada, FL |
Conch Shell Key Largo, FL |
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The Conch Shell in Islamorada is installed in a fountain at The Theater of the Sea. [map]
The Conch Shell in Key Largo is located at the northbound entrance of the Shell World gift shop. It has been there since at least 2008. [map] |
| Conch Shell Key West, FL |
Conch Shell Key West, FL |
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The first Conch Shell shown above was built by students at Key West High School in 1987. The school's sports teams are known as the Fighting Conchs. The metal sculpture is 15 feet tall. [map]
The second Conch Shell shown above has been installed at a Shell gas station since at least 2008. [map] |
| Conch Shell [gone?] Panama City Beach, FL |
Conch Shell Panama City Beach, FL |
Conch Shell Marathon, FL |
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The first Conch Shell in Panama City Beach stood next to a gift shop when this photo was taken in 2005. I couldn't find it in 2009 and I suspect that it's gone. Maybe it was actually in another nearby city or it was destroyed by a hurricane.
The second Conch Shell in Panama City Beach at Shell Port doesn't seem to be the same shape as the first one. Maybe it was replaced and the fencing and real shells on the ground have been added since then. Shell Port has been around since 1977 and I don't know of any other shell souvenir places in town. This photo is from 2019. [map] The Conch Shell in Marathon has been located at Fred's Beds since at least 2011. [map] |
| Conch Shell & Clam Shell Port St. Lucie, FL |
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| The Conch Shell & Clam Shell were installed in front of the Shell Bazaar in 1955. [map] |
| Shell Islamorada, FL |
Shells North Fort Myers, FL |
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The Shell in Islamorada has been installed in front of Ocean Gardens since at least 2015. [map]
Both of these Shells in North Fort Myers are located at the Shell Factory. The Shell in the second and third photos is located under the sign. In 2024, it was announced that the Shell Factory was closing. [map] |
| Shells & Seahorses Port Isabel, TX |
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| These Shells and Seahorses are located in front of the Harris Sea Castle gift shop. This business is or was owned by U.S. Shell which is also responsible for the larger store in Los Fresnos, TX with even larger shells and other sculptures. [map] |
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More Shells:
Conch Shell (Sanibel, FL) [gone] Oyster Shell (Taree, AU) |
| Oyster South Bend, WA |
Spitting Clam Long Beach, WA |
Clam Toms River, NJ |
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This Oyster, supposedly the world's largest, is made of concrete. South Bend is known as the Oyster Capital of the World. [map]
The Spitting Clam is about five feet tall and appears to be made of driftwood. It squirts water on the hour. For more, see this website. [map] The Clam in Toms River stands next to the Maritime Museum. It was one of 25 installed in Ocean County in 2011. After being hit by a car, it was restored in 2021. It was reinstalled further back from the road. [map] |
| Pismo Clams Pismo Beach, CA 2013: |
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| There are three concrete Clams in Pismo Beach. Two of them are painted and decorated for different holidays. These photos were taken in 2013 soon after the Fourth of July. In December 2023, the Clams were decorated for Christmas with Santa, Rudolph, and a sunset with Santa and his reindeer in the sky. The first Clam shown above is located at the entrance to town. The second one is at Pismo Coast Village RV Resort. The third is located at the Visitors Center. Does anyone know when these were built? For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. [Welcome Clam map], [Visitors Center map]; [RV park map] |
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More Clams:
Cassidy's Fish Market (Barnegat Light, NJ) |
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Copyright. All photos at this website are copyrighted and may only be used with my consent. This includes posting them at Facebook, Pinterest, blogs, other websites, personal use, etc. Tips & Updates. If you have suggestions about places that I haven't covered, historical info, or updates about places/things that have been remodeled or removed, I'd love to hear from you: roadarch@outlook.com. |