Big Tex, Towering statue at Fair Park, Dallas, United States
Big Tex is a 56-foot (17 m) tall cowboy figure standing at Fair Park in Dallas, Texas. The figure stands upright with one arm extended and wears oversized boots anchored to a solid base.
An advertising figure from Santa Fe arrived in Dallas in 1952 and was converted into the cowboy form seen today. Following a fire in 2012, a rebuilt version with reinforced construction opened one year later.
The figure wears jeans, a plaid shirt, and a white Stetson hat drawn from Texas ranch traditions. During the fair, it speaks to guests and reinforces the image of a welcoming Texan host.
The figure is viewable during the State Fair of Texas in autumn when the fairgrounds open to the public. Visitors can photograph themselves at the base and hear recorded announcements up close.
The hand gesture was chosen to look like a welcoming wave rather than any political gesture. The construction includes a moving mouth synchronized with the audio system.
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