This chap's been standing tall since 1959, celebrating a century of Oregon's statehood, and a permanent fixture of Portland's skyline. The 9.4-meter Paul Bunyan Statue is a captivating public work, luring visitors from nooks and crannies far and wide. But who the heck is this jumbo Journeyman Jack, and why the fuss?
Well, for starters, he's big. Like, really big. Almost three times as tall as your average citizen. Carved from concrete and metal, he's a modern-day behemoth, a symbol of the city's legacy and a nod to Oregon's logging roots.
But this giant isn't just a lumberjack with an oversized ax. He's a legend, a folklore figure, reaching back to the early 20th century. According to the tales, he was one of those hulking lumberjacks, sauntering through the forests of the American West, chopping down trees and causing the odd flood or two as he strutted his stuff.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Friendly Jane
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