134 ft
This temperature gauge stands high above the Mojave Desert as a monument to the day in 1913 when Death Valley temperatures reached 134 degrees F. The original thermometer fell due to high winds. But, fear not. It was re-built and stands behind what is now a Bob's Big Boy.
20 ft
Castroville is the "Artichoke Center of the World," and the residents must be proud. So proud that they have a giant artichoke in town, as well as an annual Artichoke Festival, which Miss Marilyn Monroe found herself the Artichoke Queen of in 1947.
275 ft (and still growing)
The General Sherman tree is somewhere around 2,000 years old and is the world's largest tree by volume (meaning it isn't the tallest, or widest, but biggest once you add it's height and width...I mean, it isn't just adding, there's a lot more math than that). The tree was named after the American Civil War General William Sherman in 1879.
18 ft
In 1922 a group of men held an underground ceremony to launch a club similar to the Elks, but named the Cavemen. Members used to dress in skins and march in local parades, but now there's not much left to mark the group. Except of course for the giant fiberglass caveman.
12 ft x 27 ft
Riverfront Park in Spokane has a giant Radio Flyer Wagon named The Childhood Express - and it can fit 300 kids in it. Visitors can climb up a ladder at the back of the wagon and slide back down the handle. At least the 26 ton sculpture has a purpose - holding large amounts of children captive.
80 ft
Most women swoon over expensive jewelry or personal love songs, but Hugh Davis' wife was obviously into giant whales. Hugh built the 80 foot cement whale in the early 1970 as an anniversary present for his wife. The Davis family eventually operated a reptile zoo and swimming hole around the great blue whale until Hugh passed away. The community has since been refurbishing and repainting their beloved whale.
76 ft
This giant man is the world's largest free-standing statue, standing 76 feet high and weighing in at 43, 500 pounds. It was originally built for the International Petroleum Exposition, but was refurbished and relocated to the Tulsa Exposition Center in 1966.
52 ft
Another giant man, this cowboy has been standing at the State Fair of Texas since 1952. These days he even talks, letting out a booming "Howdy, folks!" And for the record, I do find Big Tex incredibly creepy.
20 ft
This gigantic bee sits outside City Hall in Hidalgo. In 1990 the city was given the title of 'Killer Bee Capital of the World."
Cow / Buffalo - New Salem, ND / Jamestown, ND
38 ft / 26 ft
A giant cow stands alongside I-94 to honor the local dairy industry. The giant cow also has a name, Salem Sue, and can be seen from five miles away. In Jamestown a buffalo stands 26 feet high and 46 feet long. The concrete buffalo watches over a heard of living buffalo.
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