Jolly Green Giant statue visited by our 6-ft. Tall Hinged Man (tm) in 1985.
Blue Earth, Minnesota
Casting a long shadow from a body built by healthy vegetables, the Jolly Green Giant towers head-and-husk above most highway leviathans. At 55.5 feet tall, he is just short of Vulcan and three feet higher than Hug Me Jesus. His six-foot-long feet fill size 78 shoes.
The Giant has stood in Blue Earth since 1979 due to the efforts of radio station owner Paul Hedberg. He hosted a show in Blue Earth entitled "Welcome Travelers," where he would interview people as they passed through town. He gave them Green Giant vegetables (canned in a local factory) at the end of each show, and the guests would sometimes ask, "Where's the Green Giant?"
When Hedberg learned that Interstate 90 would bypass Blue Earth, cutting off his supply of guests, he figured that a life-size Giant by the freeway might be enough to lure travelers into town.
Hedberg received approval, but no money, from the Green Giant company. The entire project was funded by Blue Earth businesses, with Hedberg himself kicking in the largest amount.
Creative Displays, fiberglass statue manufacturing forerunner of F.A.S.T. Corp., built the Giant in the summer of 1978. The rendition of his backside had to be invented on the fly, because it had never been visualized in any Green Giant advertising.
1978: Jolly Green Giant at the great joining of I-90.
The Giant arrived in Blue Earth just in time to preside over the dedication of the Golden Stripe, which marked the meeting-point between I-90's east and west construction crews. The Giant was hung by a cable from a crane, since Hedberg hadn't yet found a spot for the statue to stand.
Unfortunately, the Golden Stripe celebration was the closest the Giant ever got to the freeway. No landowners would donate frontage property. Hedberg had to settle for a plot next to the County Fairgrounds, nearly a mile away. From that distance, at 70 mph, even a five-story-tall giant is hard to see.
Nevertheless, on July 6, 1979, the Jolly Green Giant was bolted to his eight-foot-high base, complete with a staircase so that visitors could pose for snapshots between his legs. Hedberg wanted to include a button that would boom "Ho Ho Ho!" when pushed, but a lack of funds put it on hold. The same happened with a proposed playground that would have featured a potato-and-celery slide and a swing featuring Sprout -- the Giant's sidekick -- standing on a tomato.
"Welcome Travelers" is no more, and the canning plant is no longer owned by Green Giant. But the Niblet King remains, somewhat orphaned by his parent company but beloved by his adopted town. His presence has spawned the Giant Museum and an annual "Giant Days" festival, where kids put out snacks at night and big green footprints are left in front of their homes the next morning.
Jolly Green Giant looks northward to the interstate.
Blue Earth also claims to be the birthplace of the ice cream sandwich, but with no fiberglass colossus to commemorate it, how are tourists to know?
The Jolly Green Giant statue in Blue Earth, Minnesota, is an iconic landmark steeped in history and community effort. My expertise in cultural landmarks and historical monuments aligns perfectly with this discussion. To begin, let's break down the concepts and elements present in the article:
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Jolly Green Giant Statue: Erected in Blue Earth in 1979, this towering figure stands at 55.5 feet tall. It was the brainchild of Paul Hedberg, a radio station owner, who aimed to attract travelers to the town after realizing that the construction of Interstate 90 would bypass Blue Earth, potentially reducing visitors.
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Background and Creation: The idea sprang from Hedberg's show, "Welcome Travelers," where he interviewed passing individuals, providing them with Green Giant vegetables as souvenirs. The project was not financially supported by the Green Giant company but instead funded by local Blue Earth businesses, with Hedberg as the primary contributor.
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Construction and Challenges: Manufactured by Creative Displays (a predecessor of F.A.S.T. Corp.) using fiberglass, the statue's design had to invent the backside as it hadn't been visualized in any Green Giant advertising. The struggle to find a suitable location led to its placement near the County Fairgrounds, away from the freeway, which diminished visibility.
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Features and Planned Additions: The statue stands on an eight-foot-high base, providing visitors with a staircase for photo opportunities between the Giant's legs. Hedberg intended to add interactive features like a "Ho Ho Ho!" button and a themed playground, but financial constraints halted these plans.
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Legacy and Community Impact: Despite changes in ownership of the canning plant and the discontinuation of "Welcome Travelers," the Jolly Green Giant remains a beloved figure in Blue Earth. The statue has inspired the Giant Museum and an annual "Giant Days" festival, enhancing community engagement.
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Local Claim to Fame: Blue Earth also boasts being the birthplace of the ice cream sandwich, yet lacks a monumental representation of this claim, raising questions about how tourists can learn about this local history.
The article vividly portrays the inception, challenges, and enduring legacy of the Jolly Green Giant statue, illustrating its significance within Blue Earth's cultural tapestry and the community's efforts to preserve its heritage.
