The Tall Concreted Tree of Utah: A Roadside Art Piece with a Quirky Twist

Cruising through the desolate Great Salt Lake Desert, you'll spot a 87-footer - a towering, tree-shaped sculpture bedecked with six spheres, each coated in Utah's own minerals. Though it's got a few battle scars, it's still quite the sight for road-weary wanderers, thanks to the state's perseverance.

This eye-catching artwork goes by the nickname Tree of Utah, and it stands proudly on Interstate 80, just 25 miles east of Wendover, Utah. Designed in the 1980s by the creative mind of Karl Momen, it was officially unveiled in 1986 as an entertaining diversion for travelers. At a towering 87 feet, it takes the form of a tree, each sphere atop adorned with Utah rocks and minerals. Constructed mainly from concrete, it took inspiration from the nearby Bonneville Salt Flats. Unfortunately, a little roughening up occurred in 2004, but it's now an unrestored yet intriguing marvel for passersby, owing to the preservation initiatives undertaken by the state.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata

Written by Friendly Jane

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