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Illinois Statues (page 1)

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Robert Wadlow
Alton, IL
Robert Wadlow, the world's tallest man, was born and raised in Alton. He was 8' 11.1" and lived from 1918-1940. This life-sized bronze sculpture was created by Edward Englehardt Giberson and installed in 1985. In 2002, a bronze replica of Wadlow's chair was installed. The actual chair was produced by Galax Furniture Company and is displayed at the Franklin Masonic Lodge in Alton. [map]

Pirates
Batchtown, IL
These Pirate statues are installed at the Pirates of the Mississippi, a pirate-themed restaurant and bar which opened in 2023. There is also a Miss Uniroyal statue here that's been turned into a female pirate.

Frankenstein
Burbank, IL
This Frankenstein statue is installed at the Haunted Trails mini golf and entertainment center. In the 1960s, the place was known as Fun Fair. In 1975, it had been renamed Haunted Trails. The Frankenstein statue was installed around 1977. It was most likely produced by Creative Display which preceded FAST Fiberglass. The mold was based on the International Fiberglass Paul Bunyan statue but with many modifications. The statue originally faced Harlem Ave. When the mini golf course was redesigned, the statue moved to the course's entrance. For more, see this website. [map]

Carbondale:
Jeremy Rochman Memorial Park

Champaign:
Humpty Dumpty

Popeye
Chester, IL		 Wimpy
Chester, IL		 Cole Oyl
Chester, IL		 Harold
HamGravy
Chester, IL		 Olive Oyl,
Swee' Pea
and Jeep
Chester, IL		 Bluto
Chester, IL
Poopdeck Pappy
Chester, IL		 Professor
Watasnozzle
Chester, IL		 Castor Oyl and Whiffle Hen
Chester, IL		 Elzie Segar
Chester, IL
This six-foot-tall bronze Popeye statue was built by Robert Walker and installed in Segar Memorial Park in 1977. Chester calls itself the hometown of Popeye since the character's creator was born there. [map]

These other Popeye character statues were produced in China and are located at different locations in town. New ones have been added each year since 2006. The last statue shown above is not Popeye-related. It represents Elzie Segar who drew and developed the Popeye characters. He passed away in the late 1930s. Segar was also obsessed with Sherlock Holmes and this statue installed in 2019 depicts Segar dressed as Sherlock Holmes. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

There are other Popeye statues in Arkansas and Texas.

Man with Fish
Chicago, IL
The Man with Fish statue and fountain stands in front of the Shedd Aquarium. It was created by Stephan Balkenhol in 2001. The painted bronze statue is 12 feet tall. [map]

Oz Park
Chicago, IL
Oz Park was created in the mid-1970s. It features statues of the characters from Lyman Frank Baum's book "The Wizard of Oz". The Tin Man statue was the first, installed in 1995. It was created by John Kearney who is famous for his car bumper sculptures. Kearney also produced the bronze Cowardly Lion in 2001, the Scarecrow in 2005, and the Dorothy and Toto in 2007. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]

Atlas
Crystal Lake, IL
This Atlas statue is located inside at the Greenhouse of Crystal Lake.

Hoffman Estates:
Ricky Rocket

Beach Guy
Livingston, IL
This Beach Guy was installed at the Coliseum Ballroom Antique Mall in Benld, IL around 2001. In 2006, this statue was moved to the Pink Elephant Antiques Mall in Livingston. These giant Beach Guy statues were probably produced by FAST. These photos are from 2012. Around 2016, the statue's bare chest was painted to look like he was wearing a pink t-shirt with an elephant on it. There is also a Donald Trump and animal statues at this location. For more, see this website. [map]

Big Muddy Monster
Murphysboro, IL
 Big Muddy Monster
Murphysboro, IL
The Big Muddy Monster legend is based on local sightings and police reports in 1973. This nine-foot-tall bronze scuplture shown on the left above was installed in 2023 to celebrate the 50th anniversary. For more, see this website. [map]

The chainsaw-carved sculpture shown above on the right was carved by Josh Hayes at the 2022 State Fair at the Du Quoin Fairgrounds. It is 8 feet tall and was carved from a pine log. The sculpture was donated to the City of Murphysboro and is now displayed in the lobby of the Holiday Inn near the other Big Muddy Monster sculpture.

Superman
Metropolis, IL		 Superman
Metropolis, IL
Metropolis is the self-proclaimed hometown of Superman. The first statue shown above is installed at the Super Museum. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]

This 15-foot-tall bronze statue of Superman on the right was installed in 1993. This one replaced a seven-foot-tall fiberglass statue from 1986. [map]

Dick Tracy
Naperville, IL
This Dick Tracy sculpture was created by Don Reed and installed on the Riverwalk in 2010. It is made of bronze and about nine feet tall. The sculpture depicts the comic strip character using his two-way wrist radio. Dick Locher, one of the cartoonists that worked on the comic strip, has lived in Naperville since 1969. For more, see this website.

Illinois
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