"These sizable civic mitts are a distant second to the giant praying hands outside of Oral Robert University in Oklahoma. But they are still impressive -- an estimated 220,000 pounds of steel and concrete, 32 feet high, atop a 40-foot-high man-made hill -- especially since they are out here, unannounced and unexpected," the Roadside America says.

"They were sculpted over a period of several years by local artist J.E. "Jack" Dawson, and are more fully clasped than the Oral Roberts paws, which merely rest against each other's fingertips. Dawson built the hands in his back yard, then had them hauled on a flatbed truck to their current spot. They were dedicated with much local fanfare on April 28, 1974.

"In November 2020 a memorial wall was added to the site, its tile mural recounting the history of the Hands' creation. Jack Dawson attended the wall's unveiling. A local reporter asked him why he'd built the Hands. He said they were a response to the 1960s, which had been "a bad time for our country."

"The hands remain forever folded on a mound overlooking the city. American flags flap around the silent memorial, and carved in stone in front of the statue are six simple words: “Hands in prayer. World in peace.” The sight of Praying Hands Memorial in Webb City leaves a lasting impression. Each year, thousands of visitors and locals see the giant hands," the Springfield Missouri Convention & Visitors Bureau says.

"The memorial started in 1970, when a 20-year-old student named Jack Dawson approached the Webb City Park Board and the Historical Society about an art piece he wished to build in the city’s King Jack Park. The organizations quickly approved the statue and encouraged local citizens and merchants to help fund the project. Dawson began the work in his own backyard by creating a steel under-structure covered with a metal lath.

"On April 28, 1974, the 32-foot, 100-ton memorial opened to the public at a dedication ceremony. That day, the hand’s creator said, “The hands symbolize the need for a personal commitment and relationship to God.” More than 30 years later, Praying Hands Memorial remains a symbol of the artist’s faith and the importance of prayer. Admission to the memorial, which is open to visitors year-round, is free. To visit Praying Hands Memorial, take Highway 71 to the eastern edge of Webb City."

"These large hands in prayer stand at 32 feet tall (on top of a 40-foot-tall man-made hill) and weigh a whopping 110 tons! (It’s important to note that while these prayer hands are impressively tall, they aren’t the world’s largest praying hands – those can be found in Tulsa, Oklahoma.) At the base of the hands is a winding concrete slab inscribed with a simple message: Hands in prayer. World in peace," the Silly America says.

"The Praying Hands statue was created by local artist Jack Dawson in 1972. Two years before, he had approached the Webb City Park Board and the Historical Society with the idea for the praying hands sculpture. They quickly approved his plans and encouraged locals to help fund the emerging artwork. In 1972 they were placed in the park and, on April 28, 1974, a dedication ceremony was held and the hands were open for all to see. Dawson said at the dedication, “The hands symbolize the need for a personal commitment and relationship to God.”

"Thousands of visitors stop by this Route 66 roadside attraction each year to take in the sight that overlooks Webb City. There’s a parking lot below the structure and a staircase up to the top."

"The Praying Hands statue, created by local artist Jack Dawson in 1972, is more than 32 feet high and weighs more than 100 tons," the Visit Missouri says.

"Webb City is a city in Jasper County, Missouri, United States. The population was 13,031 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Joplin, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area. Webb City also has a police department, a fire department, and animal control services," the Wikipedia says..

"Webb City (Webbville) was platted by John C. Webb in September 1875[5] and incorporated in December 1876, with a population of 700. The city was located on a portion of Webb's 200-acre farm, which he entered in February 1857. There, in 1873, Webb discovered lead while plowing.[6] With the assistance of W.A. Daugherty, he sank the first pump-shaft in 1874. Webb then leased his land to Daugherty and G.P. Ashcraft. In 1876, the Center Creek Mining Company leased the land and began operations. Some 20 years later, 700 mines were located within the limits of Webb City and adjacent Carterville, and the district ranked first in the production of zinc ore.

"After the decline of mining in the postwar period, Webb City turned to diversified industrial and agricultural production. In the 1930s and during World War II, explosives were manufactured by powder plants located near Webb City."

"I like the concept of the praying hands, Lord knows his country can use prayer, but from a distance they look strange. Once we got closer, they looked better.

"If you're driving on the highway around Joplin between Webb City, you can't miss the praying hands. It's a beautiful Park setting and there's a very interesting history of how the praying hands came to be during the Vietnam war. The country needs prayer today as much if not more than it did then, and this is an amazing little stop along Route 66."

"It’s a beautiful monument and a great one to see. Very visible from the highway. A must see for a trip through Webb City."

"Inspirational. Worth the drive to see it towering above town, giant hands reaching out to the god above in prayer."

"Don't make a special trip to see it, but it is a beautiful statue with a large American flag waving high above. It makes me proud to live in a community that values God and our country."

"We passed by this on our way back to the highway and it was a very nicely done sculpture. Even if a person is not religious, it does represent a reminder how important prayer and mindfulness are in this world of ours. It resonated for me."