Positive Magazine / Spring 2011 / They're Big Because We Honor Them

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They're Big Because We Honor Them

The Trojan Horse
Height: 60’
Location: Mt. Olympus Water and Theme Park, Lake Denton, WI
Built:
Interesting Fact:
The Trojan Horse is a go-kart track and just one ancient history-themed attraction at the Mt. Olympus Water and Theme Park in Lake Denton, Wisconsin. The park is just one of myriad roadside oddities in the area collectively known as the Wisconsin Dells, which is a tourist Mecca for road-hungry Midwestern travelers. And in case you were wondering, you must be 55” or taller to ride without an adult.

The Golden Driller
Height: 76’
Location: Tulsa Fairgrounds, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Built: 1953
Interesting Fact:
The Golden Driller was originally built as an exhibition for the 1953 Tulsa fair. He was removed, but rebuilt after popular outcry. He is representative of the oil riggers that helped shape Oklahoma’s economic vitality in the 1950s. The statue weighs 22 tons and is said to have survived winds more than 200 mph during one of the state’s famous tornados. He was joined by a sidekick- the Roustabird, an oil-drilling penguin in overalls and a hard hat, that was removed in 2008, but spawned a local art movement of fiberglass penguins.

The Louisville Bat
Height: 120’
Location: Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, Louisville, KY
Built: 1995
Interesting Fact:
According to the official website, the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, one of the city's most popular attractions, is also housed with the corporate headquarters. The location is well-marked by the World's Biggest Baseball Bat that casually leans against the side of the building. Guests are invited to learn about the Official Bat of Major League Baseball – Louisville Slugger. Today, over 2-million people have enjoyed the museum and factory tour experience. 

Touchdown Jesus
Height: 62’
Location: Solid Rock Church, Monroe, OH
Built: 2004
Interesting Fact:
Artist James Lynch was commissioned to render a fiberglass and styrofoam over metal frame depiction of Christ after the Resurrection looming over the Baptismal Pool, according to an article on roadsideamerica.com. The figure was completed in September 2004. Lynch has created other larger-than-life sculpture in places such as Las Vegas (Caesar's big Neptune) and Disney World. Church leaders believe it is the World's Largest Christ (or at least the W.L. half-buried Messiah) and have submitted it for consideration for a Guinness World Record. The statue was immortalize by singer Heywood Banks in his song, “Big Butter Jesus."

Editor's Note: On June 14, 2010, "Touchdown Jesus" was destroyed after lightning struck and burned down the statue. A new statue, a collaboration of Steve Brauch of Glasshand LLC and Tom Tsuchiya, is in the works and will portray Jesus Christ inviting followers to “Come Unto Me.”

 

The Longaberger Basket Building
Height: Seven Stories
Location: Longaberger Basket Company Headquarters, Newark, OH
Built: 1997
Interesting Fact:
According to the Longaberger website, Dave Longaberger, Founder of The Longaberger Company, believed the idea was one of his best and would draw attention to the company, while simultaneously helping to build the brand. However, when he started spreading the idea of building a Home Office that was really a basket, he found that most people just thought that Dave was making a joke as Dave was a notorious practical joker. Not only did the bankers, architects and construction companies not take Dave seriously, neither did many of the employees who worked for The Longaberger Company, but Dave persevered. One of Dave's most admirable attributes was that when he had a Home Officedream and believed in it, he always found a way to accomplish it.

Free Stamp
Height: 50’
Location: City Hall, Cleveland, OH
Built: Commissioned 1982, Erected 1991
Interesting Fact:
Danish artists Claes Oldenburg and Coosje Van Bruggen were commissioned by the Standard Oil Company to create the stamp, which was originally intended to rest stamp-down outside the company. Before it could be installed, Standard Oil was purchased by British Petroleum, which no longer wanted it. It was kept in storage in Indiana until the company donated it to the city. The piece was modified to rest on its side, which the artist described as representing that it had been tossed away by BP onto city property.