Pelican Pete, Public sculpture in Pelican Rapids, Minnesota, United States
Pelican Pete is a concrete and plaster sculpture that stands about 15 feet tall near the Mill Pond dam along the Pelican River in downtown. The work sits directly behind the post office and commands attention in the public space around the water.
The sculpture was first built in 1957 as the largest pelican statue of its kind. It represents a town that took its name from the rapids along the Pelican River and built its identity around this natural feature.
The local community built smaller decorative pelican sculptures throughout downtown starting in 2007 to honor the town's connection to the bird and its waterways. These additions show how the place celebrates its identity through public art.
The sculpture sits on East Mill Avenue downtown, right behind the post office and easy to reach from the main roads. Access is free and open during the day, and you can spot it without difficulty once you turn toward the river area from the highway.
The area around the dam near the sculpture serves as an informal fishing spot where visitors catch various fish like Sunfish and Northern Pike. This quiet activity gives the location an added purpose beyond its artistic appeal.
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