What sound does a chicken make? Cluck. What sound does a Booming prairie chicken make? Boom! What sound does the World’s Largest “Booming” Prairie Chicken make? BOOM!
Meet the World’s Largest “Booming” Prairie Chicken in Rothsay, Minnesota.
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This 9,000 pound big bird statue stands at 13-feet tall. It was created by artist Art Fosse in 1976 to celebrate the country’s bicentennial and the town’s self-proclaimed title of “Prairie Chicken Capital of Minnesota.” The giant chicken received a fresh coat of paint in 2008 in honor of the town’s 125th anniversary celebration.
The creature is so named for its mating dance, called, what else? Booming. In this mating ritual the male prairie chicken lets out a halting booming sound while his orange wind sacs inflate, all while while stomping his feet and spreading his wings and tail feathers.
Yes, my Silly American friends, this is a world’s largest bird in heat.
The World’s Largest “Booming” Prairie Chicken makes for a quick stop off of an I-94 road trip through Minnesota that is also convenient to many other world’s largest things and other Minnesota roadside attractions. You can also check out the World’s Largest Dilly Bar, World’s Largest Pelican, a large Canada Goose, and Otto The Otter in one go. That’s a lot of big things!
The inscription on the World’s Largest “Booming” Prairie Chicken plaque:
Prairie chickens moved ahead of the settlers to inhabit the prairies of Minnesota. A large concentration of the protected bird can still be seen on prairie meadows of the Rothsay area. In the early spring the male prairie chicken performs his mating ritual called booming. He spreads his wings and tail feathers, inflates the orange wind sacs and struts while making the booming sound.
On June 10, 1975, Rothsay was designated “Prairie Chicken Capital of Minnesota”. This statue of a booming prairie chicken was designed and built by Art Fosse with assistance and funds from the community. The statue stands 13 x 18 feet and weighs 9,000 pounds. It was placed on this site and unveiled, June 15, 1976.
The objective of this project is to alert area visitors and remind local residents of the beauty to be found on the native prairie grasslands.
Rothsay Centennial Committee – 1983
World’s Largest “Booming” Prairie Chicken
Location: Art Fosse Wayside Rest, Center St., Rothsay, MN
Hours: Always Visible
Cost: Free to See
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