Boll Weevil Monument, Bronze and iron memorial in Enterprise, Alabama, US
The Boll Weevil Monument is a 13-foot-tall memorial in downtown Enterprise, Alabama, showing a female figure holding aloft a platform with a sculpted weevil perched above it. The current version is made of polymer resin on a cast-iron base and stands at a street corner in the downtown area, surrounded by low buildings and sidewalks.
The town unveiled the memorial in December 1919 in response to the devastation caused by the cotton boll weevil, which forced farmers to shift to peanut farming. Multiple thefts and damage led to the original bronze piece being replaced with a replica, while the original is kept safe in a museum.
Locals often share the story behind the statue with visitors, explaining how a plague became an opportunity that forced farmers to rethink their crops. The memorial serves as a meeting point for events and as a backdrop for photos, where guests often pose smiling beside the raised figure.
The corner of Main Street and College Street offers on-street parking and a small pedestrian area around the memorial. Visitors can view it at any time of day since it stands freely accessible outdoors with no entry barriers.
Worldwide, this is the only public monument dedicated to an insect pest rather than a hero or historic event. The idea arose from a time when desperation turned to gratitude because the insect inadvertently led the region to greater prosperity.
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