"When Old Ben was Newborn Ben in 1902, he was the largest calf in the world and "an object of wonder," according to a sign in front of his stuffed carcass. He lived and grew, and grew, on a farm about a dozen miles north of Kokomo. By the time he was four he already weighed over two tons," the Roadside America says..

"Ben was the most famous animal in Indiana when he fell and broke his leg in early 1910. The doctor who was called to help Ben shot him. Ben weighed nearly 5,000 pounds, he was over 16 feet long, and "his tongue filled a dishpan," according to the back of an old Old Ben post card. His hide was stuffed and mounted on wheels for easy transport. His body was ground into several hundred pounds of Indiana frankfurters.

"No one could ever explain why Old Ben was so large, but both he and the Stump are excellent ambassadors for the ecosystem of Kokomo, real versions of the fake giant vegetables and animals seen on vintage post cards. They grow 'em big here.

"Old Ben didn’t grow up to become the world’s largest steer—he was born that way. From the moment his hooves hit the ground in 1902, Ben was an “object of wonder,” according to a sign in front of his now-stuffed carcass. Weighing 125 pounds at birth (the normal range is 60 to 80 pounds) Old Ben tipped the scales at between 4,585 and 4,720 pounds upon his death in 1910.

"Born on a farm near Kokomo, Indiana, local legend states that Old Ben had to rest on his knees to nurse when he was less than a week old. He continued to gain weight as he grew, at a rate of nearly 100 pounds a month. Ben weighed one ton before he was two years old, and two tons at the age of four," the Atlas Obscura says.

"Old Ben was six-and-a-half feet tall and 16.25 feet long from nose to the tip of his tail. He was the offspring of a registered Hereford bull and a regular Shorthorn cow and was never fed any supplements or special food. No one can explain his large size, but his record remains today."

"The world’s largest steer, Old Ben weighed 125 pounds at birth in 1902 and between 4,585-4,720 pounds at his death in 1910. He stood 6.5 feet tall and 16.25 feet long from nose to the tip of his tail," the Visit Kokomo says.

"Many circus owners and sideshow representatives tried to buy him, but his owners turned down all offers, preferring to show him themselves in a private tent at fairs all over Indiana and even at the State Fair for several years. Ripley featured him in his “Believe It Or Not” in 1968, and he is now housed in a pavilion in Highland Park, for all to see.

"Old Ben is located in the same pavilion as the Giant Sycamore Stump."

"Old Ben may not be the best known character in Kokomo's history, but he is easily in the Top Ten. Everyone who has lived here for any length of time knows about him. During World War II, his fame spread to all parts of the world by word and picture. He set a record for his size, which still stands to this day. The preserved figure of the gigantic steer stands in the Highland Park pavilion," The City of Kokomo says. 

"Old Ben's story began in 1902 on the farm of Mike and John Murphy between Bunker Hill and Miami near what is known as Haggerty's crossing. He was the off-spring of a pure bred registered Hereford bull and an ordinary shorthorn cow. Ben was a prodigy from the very beginning as he weighed 125 pounds at birth. It was said he had to rest on his knees to nurse when he was less than a week old. He gained approximately 100 pounds a month. He weighed one ton at 20 months and two tons at the age of 4 in 1906. By that time, he had become quite a celebrity, and his owners exhibited him at many fairs and festivals. The Nickel Plate Railroad even ran a spur line to the Murphy farm just to help Ben in his travels. 

"He was never fed a special diet, but was pastured with the other cattle on the Miami county farm where many visitors would go to watch him on his home ground.  Numerous sideshow and circus owners tried to buy him, but the Murphy's turned them all down. The Murphy's preferred to show him themselves in a private tent at fairs all over Indiana and at the State Fair. Unfortunately, in February of 1910, Ben slipped on some ice and had a hard fall that broke his leg. With understandable reluctance, the Murphy's called in a vet from Marion and had him shot. There were two different figures on the animal's weight at the time of his passing. One figure was 4,585 and the other was 4,720 pounds. He was 6 1/2 feet tall at the shoulder, 14 feet around and 16 1/4 feet from his nose to the tip of his tail." 

"Kokomo is home to the record holder for the world’s largest steer, Old Ben. Born in 1902, Old Ben was the offspring of a purebred registered Hereford bull and an ordinary shorthorn cow, but he turned out to be anything but ordinary. Standing nearly 6.5 feet tall and 16 feet long, Old Ben weighed 125 pounds at birth. By the time he died in 1910, he was estimated to weigh between 4,585 and 4,720 pounds," the My Indiana Home says.

"Old Ben was taxidermied after he died, and though many circus and sideshow owners tried to buy him, his owners stood firm and turned down every offer, preferring to show him themselves at fairs all over Indiana, including the state fair, for several years. Old Ben was so popular that the Nickel Plate Railroad even ran a spur line to the farm so passengers could see him.

"In 1968, Old Ben was featured in Ripley’s “Believe It or Not” and has been an object of wonder ever since. Today, the giant steer is displayed in the Highland Park pavilion, where visitors can visit each year during a holiday event."

"Old Ben, the world’s largest steer, weighed 125 pounds at birth in 1902 and between 4,585-4,720 pounds at his death in 1910. He stood 6.5 feet tall and 16.25 feet long from nose to the tip of his tail," the Visit Indiana says.

"Many circus owners and sideshow representatives tried to buy him, but his owners turned down all offers, preferring to show him themselves in a private tent at fairs all over Indiana and even at the State Fair for several years. Ripley featured him in his “Believe It Or Not” in 1968. A taxidermist was hired to stuff Old Ben.

"Old Ben is now located in a pavilion in Kokomo's Highland Park, next to the Giant Sycamore Stump, for all to see. Open dawn to dusk."

"Kokomo is a city in Indiana and the county seat of Howard County, Indiana, United States. Its population increased from 45,468 at the 2010 census to 59,604 in the 2020 census. It is the principal city of the Kokomo, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Howard County, the Kokomo-Peru CSA, which includes Howard and Miami counties, as well as the North Central Indiana region consisting of six counties anchored by the city of Kokomo.

"Named for the Miami Ma-Ko-Ko-Mo who was called "Chief Kokomo", Kokomo first benefited from the legal business associated with being the county seat. Before the Civil War, it was connected with Indianapolis and then the Eastern cities by railroad, which resulted in sustained growth. Substantial growth came after the discovery of large natural gas reserves, which produced an economic boom in the mid-1880s," the Wikipedia says.

"Among the businesses which the boom attracted was the fledgling automobile industry. A significant number of technical and engineering innovations were developed in Kokomo, particularly in automobile production, and, as a result, Kokomo became known as the "City of Firsts." A substantial portion of Kokomo's employment still depends on the automobile industry."

"Old Ben and the stump were both cool to see and a great place to stop and stretch your legs."

"Great for a side trip of strange things in Indiana! Just down the street from KOG and a good tour there."

"I've seen this since I was young. It is incredible how large it is!"

"I grew up in this area, so I've visited him many times. He still makes me go WOW! Fun for kids to see as well as adults."

"Old Ben is enclosed in plexiglass which made the morning light tough to get good pictures. But we still enjoyed seeing these sights. I do recommend a quick stop to see these!"

"All-in-all this takes about three minutes to enjoy, but it is such a strange attraction I can't help but recommend it! Old Ben and the stump are housed in the same building situated on a very, very lovely park (which also features a covered bridge!!) with picnic tables, playground, and easy parking."

Photos: World's Largest Preserved Steer: world record in Kokomo, Indiana

(1) Phyllis Hartzell, age 22, posing with Ben in 1944. Photo: The City of Kokomo

(2) Phyllis Hartzell-Talbert, age 100, posing with Ben in 2022. Photo: The City of Kokomo

(3) Phyllis Hartzell-Talbert, age 100, posing with Ben in 2022. Photo: The City of Kokomo

(4) Mike Murphy and Old Ben. Photo: Visit Kokomo

(5) Old Ben. Photo: Visit Kokomo

(6) Old Ben, Photo: Wikipedia

(7) Old Ben. Photo: Midwest Wanderer

(8) Old Ben. Photo: Midwest Wanderer

(9) Old Ben. Photo Facebook/Kokomo's Old Ben

(10)  Old Ben. Photo Facebook/Kokomo's Old Ben

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