Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox, Folk art monument at Lake Bemidji, United States
Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox is a concrete sculpture group in Bemidji showing a lumberjack about 18 feet (5.5 meters) tall and his blue ox. The sculptures stand on an open lawn area near the shore of Lake Bemidji, surrounded by trees and paths.
The statues were built in 1937 for a winter carnival to promote tourism in the region during economically difficult years. They developed over the decades into a fixed reference point for the town and its connection to forestry.
The figures draw people daily who pose for photos in front of the statues or stroll through the park. Locals consider the sculptures a fixed part of their identity, and many children grow up hearing stories about the giant and his ox.
The sculptures are accessible year-round from the outside and stand on an open plaza suitable for visitors with different needs. The nearby visitor center offers additional exhibits and information about the region.
The original version of the ox figure could be moved and had tail lights in its eyes and exhaust pipes in its nostrils. These details were meant to create the impression that the animal was breathing in cold winter air.
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