Paul Bunyan & Babe the Blue Ox
Bemidji, MN
Lakeside statues from 1937 of the giant lumberjack and his ox. They are some of the most photographed in the Midwest.
The statues of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox in Bemidji, Minnesota, stand in a park at the corner of Third Street and Bemidji Avenue on Lake Bemidji. They were unveiled on January 14, 1937, at the start of the Winter Carnival, with which businessmen and clubs wanted to boost tourism. Paul is about 5.5 meters (18 feet) tall, Babe about 3 meters (10 feet). Both have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since March 10, 1988.
Paul was built on a wooden frame with steel reinforcing bars and cement stucco and, according to Visit Bemidji, designed to withstand strong winds; Babe has a wooden rib skeleton covered with wire lath and canvas. Babe was modeled on the largest ox at the nearby Headwaters Logging Camp. The Tourist Information Center at 300 Bemidji Avenue North displays a replica of Paul’s rifle. Visit Bemidji calls the statues the nation’s second most photographed roadside attraction.
The statues stand in the middle of town and are easy to see on a stroll along the lakeshore.
- Nearest town
- Bemidji, MN
- Category
- Roadside oddities
- GPS
- 47.4717, -94.8810
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August. Cold, short days in November–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Lake Bemidji State Park CampgroundCampsite5 mi from Paul Bunyan & Babe the Blue Ox · 100 pitchesTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersWaste disposal
- La Salle Lake State Recreation Area CampgroundCampsite16 mi from Paul Bunyan & Babe the Blue Ox · 39 pitchesTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersWi-Fi
- South Pike Bay CampgroundCampsite17 mi from Paul Bunyan & Babe the Blue OxTentsCaravansDrinking waterToilets
- Cass Lake Campground LoopCampsite18 mi from Paul Bunyan & Babe the Blue Ox · 12 pitchesDrinking water
- Knutson Dam CampgroundCampsite19 mi from Paul Bunyan & Babe the Blue Ox · 14 pitchesTentsDrinking water
- Bagley City Park CampgroundCampsite25 mi from Paul Bunyan & Babe the Blue Ox · 50 pitchesTentsCaravansElectricityShowersToilets
All campsites in Minnesota · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Paul Bunyan & Babe the Blue Ox?
Paul Bunyan & Babe the Blue Ox is in Bemidji, MN, at GPS 47.4717, -94.8810. It is about 22 mi from Lake Itasca.
Can you camp near Paul Bunyan & Babe the Blue Ox?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Royal Oaks RV Park, about 3 mi away; within 25 mi there are 27 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Paul Bunyan & Babe the Blue Ox?
Paul Bunyan & Babe the Blue Ox is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Up the Mississippi to its source at Lake Itasca.
What is there to see near Paul Bunyan & Babe the Blue Ox?
Places worth a stop nearby: Mississippi Headwaters, Itasca State Park (22 mi), Hull-Rust-Mahoning Mine View (91 mi), Bonanzaville (104 mi) and Charles A. Lindbergh Historic Site (107 mi).
When is the best time to visit Paul Bunyan & Babe the Blue Ox?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)