Giganticus Headicus

I recently had the chance to visit this roadside oddity in Arizona. It's located about 20 miles east of Kingman on Route 66. Artist Gregg Arnold created it in 2004, modeling it after the giant heads on Easter Island. He created it, he said, "because the place looked like it needed something like this."

More info: Roadside America

Posted By: Alex - Wed Aug 24, 2022 - Comments (0)
Category: Art, Landmarks, Sightseeing

“The Largest Cross in the Western Hemisphere”

Another oddity that I encountered on my recent cross-country road trip was the "largest cross in the western hemisphere." It's located in Groom, Texas, just a few miles down the road from the Devil's Rope Museum (which I posted about yesterday).

It was built in 1995 by Steve Thomas, a structural engineer, after he grew tired of being "faced with huge billboards along I-40 advertising XXX pornography locations." He wanted to offer the public something more wholesome instead.



The cross stands 190 feet tall, but as you approach it along the highway it looks disappointingly small because it's dwarfed by windmills in the fields around it. However, once you get right up beside it, it seems pretty big.

Referring to the cross as the largest in the western hemisphere, begs the question of where the largest cross is. According to Wikipedia, it's in Spain and is 500 feet tall.

However, more Internet research reveals that the cross in Groom isn't actually the largest in the western hemisphere, even though it's still being advertised as such (according to the pamphlet I got — see below). It was the tallest when it was built, but there are now two taller crosses in America — one in Illinois (198-feet tall) and another in Missouri (218-feet tall).



The cross is surrounded by "life-size bronze sculptures depicting the steps of Jesus to the Cross." And to the side of the cross is a life-size depiction of Calvary, where Jesus was crucified alongside two thieves.

The depiction of Calvary stands quite close to the highway. You can see the trucks and cars going by in the background. It gives the odd impression of three people being crucified along the I-40.



Overall, given that the giant cross was directly off the highway and very easy to get to, I'd recommend it as being interesting enough to visit, if you happen to be doing a roadtrip along the I-40.

Posted By: Alex - Mon Jun 06, 2022 - Comments (2)
Category: Religion, Landmarks, Sightseeing

Roadside America Miniature Village

Their Wikipedia page.

Posted By: Paul - Fri Sep 15, 2017 - Comments (0)
Category: Sightseeing, Tourists and Tourism, 1930s

Don’t Look Down

A 980 foot long glass bottom suspension bridge with a lush green canyon 590 feet below. If you want to walk across its just a short trip to Hunan, China.

Posted By: Alex - Tue Sep 29, 2015 - Comments (7)
Category: Daredevils, Stuntpeople and Thrillseekers, Landmarks, Sightseeing

Sunshine Shangrila

There's nothing better for declaring that your production is second-rate than choosing as host not starlet Arlene Dahl herself, but her almost anonymous body double.

This is a capsule of so much early 1960s stuff, including Tikis (Polynesia in Mexico?) at about the ten-minute mark. Some splendid bikini cheesecake as well.

In the end, the weirdest and saddest thing here is that once upon a time Mexico was seen as idyllic, rather than plagued by drugs and violence.

Posted By: Paul - Sun Jun 07, 2015 - Comments (4)
Category: Sightseeing, 1960s, North America

World’s Largest Cuckoo Clock Contender

Sugarcreek, Ohio has what they claim is the world's largest cuckoo clock. In fact it had been on display at a couple of different venues for many years. It is quite a lovely and charming tourist attraction.

Posted By: Alex - Fri Mar 20, 2015 - Comments (2)
Category: Art, Fey, Twee, Whimsical, Naive and Sadsack, Puppets and Automatons, World Records, Landmarks, Sightseeing

Dirigible Hanging

Posted By: Paul - Mon Jun 16, 2014 - Comments (5)
Category: Daredevils, Stuntpeople and Thrillseekers, Air Travel and Airlines, Sightseeing, 1930s

Gay’s Lion Farm

For almost 20 years, the only commercial lion breeding facility (and tourist attraction) "in the world."

The Wikipedia entry.

Article from 1926.

Posted By: Paul - Wed Mar 26, 2014 - Comments (5)
Category: Animals, Farming, Sightseeing, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s

Tombstone for a Trout

Mrs. Keyte of Blockley, Gloucestershire had a pet trout that would eat worms from her hand. When it died in 1855, she erected a tombstone in its honor. That tombstone remains one of the most popular tourist attractions in Blockley. And it's perhaps the only tombstone for a trout in the world. [National Geographic, 1917]

Posted By: Alex - Mon Jan 07, 2013 - Comments (3)
Category: Death, Obituaries, Pets, Fish, Monuments, Sightseeing, Nineteenth Century

Alternative Mount Rushmores—where are they?

Stonehenge has many imitators. For instance, there's Stonehenge II in Texas, Carhenge in Nebraska, and Fridgehenge in New Mexico.

But what about Mount Rushmore? Are there similarly all kinds of alternative Mount Rushmores tucked away in obscure corners of the world? I would have thought so. After all, it's one of the most famous landmarks in the world and seems ripe for creative re-interpretation.

However, the only alternative Mount Rushmore that I'm aware of is Florence Deeble's Mount Rushmore in her rock garden in Lucas, Kansas. Am I missing something here? There must be more Mount Rushmores out there, but where are they?

Posted By: Alex - Sat Jun 02, 2012 - Comments (6)
Category: Landmarks, Monuments, Sightseeing