Roadside Americana · Minnesota
Paul Bunyan & Babe
The classic giant lumberjack & blue ox
TypeGiant Roadside Colossus
StateMinnesota
WhenLate spring–fall
How to visitFree; lakefront park
The 1937 statues of the legendary lumberjack and his big blue ox on the Bemidji lakefront — among the most photographed roadside giants in America and the granddaddy of Minnesota’s many Paul Bunyans. Pure North Woods Americana.
The photo
The pair on the Lake Bemidji shore.
Pair it with
- Bemidji
- Lake Bemidji
- Itasca State Park (Mississippi headwaters)
- North Woods
Roadside attractions keep their own quirky hours and can change owners, close, or move — confirm it’s open before a long detour, respect private property and art, and leave it as iconic as you found it.
Build a trip around roadside stops like this.
Roamward turns spots like this into a real road trip on your phone — the scenic drive, the stops, and the detours, planned around the vibe you’re after. Get early access: