Since we were in Bangor anyway poking around the Central Maine Antique Exchange I thought it’d be fun to go three miles down the road to see the Paul Bunyan statue that stands proudly outside the Bangor Civic Center in Bass Park. He’s a 31-foot-tall local icon that has been greeting tourists and looky-loos since 1959. Why? Because Maine believes he was born out here. They even have his birth certificate on display in the city hall. This fact is not undisputed though as there’s been an ongoing quarrel with Akeley Minnesota who also claims to be the birthplace of Paul Bunyan.
Now I didn’t throw myself too deep down this rabbit hole. I just think the controversy is funny and it’s a bleeding shame the artist who designed him, Normand Martin, was only paid a paltry $137 for his contribution. A further $20,000 was raised to actually manufacture this beast of a statue which has been a great place to take selfies for anyone in need of a chuckle.
Also you’ll note he’s holding an ax in one hand and a peavy in the other. I learned what a peavy was after stumbling on its inventor’s grave last year at the Mount Hope Cemetery. I apologize the photos are so bad but we showed up when the sun was DIRECTLY behind him and well…. that doesn’t make for good photography. SIGH.
That all being said this is a beloved monument to a quirky American tall tale and it’s just all-around good fun for people of all ages.
To end one day’s worth of chasing waterfalls I drove up to Rumford falls just as it was starting to get a bit dark. I hadn’t realized this was also the location of another one of the things on my list of roadside attractions – a giant Paul Bunyan statue complete with Babe the big blue ox!
Sadly I showed up at the wrong time of year and the falls were completely dry… nothing really to see here except a series of weird Indian Cut-Outs?? I guess Maine hasn’t been seen by the PC police yet… but anyway! If you’re going to go see this, go in the spring when there is a flow! Unless you’re just here to take cheeky photos with Paul Bunyan…. he’s out in the parking lot and just as tacky and hilarious as he looks. Great opportunity for selfie mischief! I would say I look like a total dork with my jeans still rolled up from playing in the water but then I realized I’m hugging a big blue ox soooo…..
