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Robert Wadlow Statue, the World’s Tallest Man, in Alton, Illinois

Here at Silly America we’re kind of obsessed with the world’s tallest statues. I’ve found everything from a giant Superman statue to the world’s tallest Abraham Lincoln statue… But now it is time for a statue that is not a tall rendering of something, it’s a tall rendering of something tall! The Robert Wadlow statue in Alton, Illinois, is actually a to-scale life-size figure of the world’s tallest man!

Statue of Robert Wadlow, the world's tallest man, in Alton, Illinois.
Statue of Robert Wadlow, the world's tallest man, in Alton, Illinois.

Robert Pershing Wadlow was born in Alton, Illinois in February 1918. He was born a normal-sized baby but throughout his life he continued to grow taller due to a hypertrophy of his pituitary gland that produced an abnormally high level of human growth hormone. By age thirteen he was seven foot four. When he died in 1940 (at age 22) he was a staggering 8 feet 11.1 inches.

The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book - Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip! By Valerie Bromann

The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book

Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip!

Enjoy fun games and challenges to pass the time on your next road trip and have a keepsake to look back on for years to come with this entertaining must-have for your next vacation.

Statue of Robert Wadlow, the world's tallest man, in Alton, Illinois.
Statue of Robert Wadlow, the world's tallest man, in Alton, Illinois.

On October 20, 1985, Ned Giberson, a local artist, crafted a life-size bronze state of Robert Wadlow. The statue was erected on campus at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Dental Medicine in Alton, where Wadlow had once attended classes.

Statue of Robert Wadlow, the world's tallest man, in Alton, Illinois.
Statue of Robert Wadlow, the world's tallest man, in Alton, Illinois.

Details of the head, hands, and feet from the statue of Robert Wadlow:

Statue of Robert Wadlow, the world's tallest man, in Alton, Illinois.
Statue of Robert Wadlow, the world's tallest man, in Alton, Illinois.
Statue of Robert Wadlow, the world's tallest man, in Alton, Illinois.

While at this Illinois roadside attraction, be sure to also check out Robert Wadlow’s birth house next door.

Robert Wadlow Statue in Alton, Illinois. The World's Tallest Man.
Robert Wadlow Statue in Alton, Illinois. The World's Tallest Man.
Robert Wadlow Statue in Alton, Illinois. The World's Tallest Man.
Robert Wadlow Statue in Alton, Illinois. The World's Tallest Man.
Robert Wadlow Statue in Alton, Illinois. The World's Tallest Man.

Robert Wadlow Statue — the world’s tallest man

Location: 2810 College Ave, Alton, IL 62002
Hours: Daylight Hours
Costs: Free to See
Date: July 15, 2007

Pin this roadside attraction:

Life-size Robert Wadlow statue, the world's tallest man, in Alton, Illinois. At the time of his death in 1940, Wadlow stood at 8 feet 11.1 inches. Visit this weird roadside attraction on a road trip through Illinois with kids or adults. Add it to your bucket list of things to do in Illinois. 
#IllinoisRoadsideAttractions #IllinoisRoadsideAttraction #RoadsideAttractions #RoadsideAttraction #RoadTrip #IllinoisRoadTrip #WeirdRoadsideAttractions #RoadTripStops
Life-size Robert Wadlow statue, the world’s tallest man, in Alton, Illinois. At the time of his death in 1940, Wadlow stood at 8 feet 11.1 inches. Visit this weird roadside attraction on a road trip through Illinois with kids or adults. Add it to your bucket list of things to do in Illinois.

VALerie BROMANN

Founder & Head Road Tripper

Val is the founder and head road tripper at Silly America. Having grown up near Berwyn's famed car kabob, The Spindle, and a restaurant with a cow on its roof, her fascination with roadside attractions started early. Today, Val has visited hundreds roadside attractions across the United States and is constantly on the lookout for the next BIG thing!

The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book - Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip! By Valerie Bromann

The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book

Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip!

BY Valerie Bromann

Enjoy fun games and challenges to pass the time on your next road trip and have a keepsake to look back on for years to come with this entertaining must-have for your next vacation.

The road trip you’ve been dreaming of starts here! Journal about your stops and get to know your fellow passengers with activities and exercises designed to pass the time and bring you closer together. Instead of “Are we there yet?” you’ll find yourself asking, “We’re there already?”. Complete with prompts you can turn to while driving between locations, this journal will one day be a memento of your life-changing trip.