World’s Largest Penguin Statue, world record in Cut Bank, Montana
Cut Bank, Montana, United States--The Penguin, a giant talking penguin statue, located in the town of Cut Bank, Montana, United States, stands at 27 feet tall - about 3 stories - is made of concrete, and weighs about five tons; made in 1989 in honor of Cut Bank’s claim of having the coldest recorded weather in the lower 48, it sets the world record for being the World’s Largest Penguin Statue, according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY.
"Within the city, the statue can be found just outside the town to the southeast on Highway 2. Due to its size of it, the penguin can be seen for a few hundred years as you approach, although the nearby development has taken a bit of visibility from the statue. The statue sits directly outside the Glacier Gateway Inn, so anyone wanting to spend a little time hanging around the statue can!," the A-Z Animals says.
"As all things seem to have these days, the building of the 27-foot-tall penguin didn’t come without a bit of controversy in its day. The first and most factual critique is that the location isn’t actually the coldest spot in the United States. Even taking out Alaska, the undisputed king of cold, the location isn’t the coldest!
"Another issue is that the statue caused a bit of a public stir, one because it wasn’t the prettiest thing ever built, and two because it was causing traffic. In fact, the traffic that was being created spurred the Gustafsons to close their hardware shop and open up a hotel nearby. Yep, THE hotel that is situated directly behind the statue. The traffic thing isn’t really an issue anymore, but the public sentiment of the day may have had some merit. Regardless, it’s what the area is recognized for to this day!"
"What’s better than a rainbow Trout Buffalo? Why, a giant talking penguin, of course! This statue located in the town of Cut Bank makes for quite the sight," the Montana Gift Corral says.
"The Penguin stands at 27 feet tall - about 3 stories - is made of concrete, and weighs about five tons. Made in 1989 in honor of Cut Bank’s claim of having the coldest recorded weather in the lower 48.
"Whether this claim is founded or not doesn’t stop the giant statue in front of the Glacier Gateway Inn from calling out “Welcome to Cut Bank, the Coldest Spot in the Nation” every once in awhile."
"You would definitely want to see this landmark it isn't just glorious and marvelous it also talks. There is a button where the penguin starts talking in fuzzy, inaudible English," the Prezi.com says.
"The penguin is located in Cut Bank, Montana which is dubbed the coldest region in the nation (excluding Alaska, of course). The penguin was created to appear more classic but it wasn't built that long ago, only in 1989.
"The sculpture was made by a man named Ron Gustafon. The statue stands 29 feet tall, weighs 10000 pounds of concrete over a metal frame."
"The penguin statue is a 27 foot tall sculpture made by Ron Gustafson in 1989. You'll find him outside of the Glacier Gateway Inn," the Only In Your State says.
"The statue was designed to commemorate Cute Bank's freezing cold status, but most locals agree that he's pretty charming. Do not be alarmed if you hear this penguin talk to you (yes, we're serious). When his speaker works, he's known to blurt out "Welcome to Cut Bank, the Coldest Spot in the Nation!"
"But we definitely do recommend stopping for a few photos on your way to Glacier National Park, preferably on a day when Cut Bank is not, in fact, the coldest spot in the nation."
"Cut Bank (pop. 3,519) boasts of being home to the world’s largest penguin statue. The concrete sculpture stands 27 feet tall and weighs 10,000 pounds," the American Profile says.
"Ron Gustafson, owner of Glacier Gateway Inn, wanted something that would showcase the fact that Cut Bank often has the lowest temperature in the continental United States, so he built the giant penguin in 1989."
"Located off the side of Highway 2 on the way to Glacier National Park, I hadn’t actually found this on any my traveling apps, just happened upon it while heading to my hotel," the yesshewentthere.com says.
"Upon later research I learned that, assuming it is working — which it often is not, this statue is supposed to talk — “bleating out the slogan, “Welcome to Cut Bank, the Coldest Spot in the Nation!“.
"The title of coldest spot in the Nation is apparently contested, and I suppose it kind of depends on the year."
"Entering Cut Bank, Montana, it’s hard to miss the sign announcing that you’ve entered the coldest town in America. Because that sign takes the form of a giant concrete penguin," the
Only In Your State says.
"The big bird was created by Cut Bank resident Ron Gustafson more than 30 years ago. “It was on one of those flash-frozen days, February 1, 1989,” according to Roadside America, “when the wind chill plummeted to 64 degrees below zero” and Gustafson decided he should commemorate the town’s claim to fame. The 27-foot-tall penguin stood outside of his family’s appliance store.
"The base of the statue proclaims Cut Bank “the coldest spot in the nation,” but is that actually true? In the winter, the temperature rarely gets above freezing. The coldest temperature in the town’s history was -47 degrees Fahrenheit, which happened on February 15, 1936."
"On a hot, summer day, it’s hard to imagine that Cut Bank can be a cold, foreboding place. But, if the World’s Largest Penguin tells you that it’s so, you’d better believe it. You can see, and sometimes hear, the giant concrete penguin at the edge of Cut Bank, Montana, and take some time to explore the rest of the town," the TakeMyTrip.com says.
"Cut Bank, Montana is located on US Highway 2, about 62 miles from the eastern end of Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Highway. The giant penguin is located on the east side of town, at the spot where Main Street (US 2) and Railroad Street split.
"If ever there was a reason to drive an hour east of Glacier National Park, I’d say that a 3-story-tall concrete penguin qualifies. This giant statue honoring the noble birds that don’t live anywhere near here is, quite possibly, the tallest penguin statue in the world. I’m not sure whether it’s been officially certified — just as I’m unsure whether Cut Bank really is the “coldest spot in the nation”.
"Cut Bank gives substance to its boast with a giant penguin statue, 27 feet tall, 10,000 pounds of concrete over a metal frame," the Trip Bucket says.
"The sculpture, by Ron Gustafson, is in a style and made of material that might make it appear to be a classic -- 70 or 80 years old. But it was built more recently, in 1989. And it has a hidden feature -- when working -- it talks!"
"Cut Bank sits in one of the coldest regions of Montana where temperatures regularly drop to 13°F (-11°C) and sometimes lower. In fact, a world-record temperature drop of 103°F (39°C) was once recorded in nearby Loma. However, Cut Bank is not officially the coldest spot in the nation," the
Montana Beyond says.
"Throughout the latter part of the 20th century, the frigid winter temperatures in Cut Bank were broadcast on wire radio and the Armed Forces Radio Network, which helped secure its unofficial motto of “the coldest spot in the nation”.
"But this isn’t the only reason Cut Bank dons this slogan. A 27-foot (8-meter) tall penguin statue standing at the entrance to town, greeting visitors with the slogan “WELCOME TO CUT BANK MT. COLDEST SPOT IN THE NATION“, made it stick."
Photos: World’s Largest Penguin Statue, world record in Cut Bank, Montana
(1)
A-Z Animals
(2) Wikipedia
(5) Fotospot
(6) Facebook/Montana Historical Society
(8) KAYAK.com
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