We’ve all heard of the Statue of Liberty, the Grand Canyon, and the Golden Gate Bridge. These U.S. landmarks are worth seeing, but what about the Giant Basket building in Ohio, Lucy the Elephant in New Jersey, and the only corn palace in the world in South Dakota? These smaller, yet quirkier landmarks might be worth a visit, too.
The Crossroads of America
Indianapolis, Indiana is known as the “Crossroads of America” but there is some debate about the reason for this. Some people say it got its name because of its location near four major Interstate highways. You can access I-65, I-69. I-70, and I-74, but the Crossroads of America landmark states that U.S. Highway 40, which is the old National Road and the U.S. Highway 41, which was a major north-south route, intersect in Indy, making it the Crossroads of America.
Now That’s a Lot of String
The World’s Largest Ball of Twine resides in Cawker City, KS. It has a 40-foot circumference and weighs over 17,000 pounds. The Cawker City Community Club is in charge of taking care of this unique roadside attraction. To make sure it never stops growing, an annual twine-a-thon is held during the annual Cawker City Parade, where members of the community add additional twine to the ball.
Come Meet Lucy the Elephant
Lucy the Elephant is a quirky piece of architecture in Margate, NJ. It was first built in 1881 as a way to attract real estate buyers to the area. The railroad stopped right by Lucy when it brought visitors to Margate, and Lucy remained a tourist attraction into the 20th century.
It’s location near the ocean was not good for Lucy though, it took a toll on it. But efforts to restore the attraction were successful and Lucy still stands today.
Visit the World’s Only Corn Palace
Corn is important in the Midwest, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that a building in South Dakota is dedicated to it. It’s rightfully named World’s Only Corn Palace and has been entertaining visitors for 100 years.
Designed with the 13 different shades and colors of corn, visitors love to take selfies with the building, which features a six-foot tall ear of corn named Cornelius. While the outside of the building is unique, it’s even more fun if you go inside where it hosts basketball games, and concerts.
An Actual Jolly Green Giant
The Jolly Green Giant statue in Minnesota is more than just a statue of the recognizable vegetable brand, it’s also a museum. The statue stands 55.5 feet tall and has stood in Blue Earth, Minnesota since 1979.
When you visit the statue you’ll be able to see the largest collection of Jolly Green Giant memorabilia in the entire world and find out more about the history of the canning factory. The museum also features canning machines and some interesting plant artifacts.
