What Is the World’s Largest Bull Statue?
It’s Albert the Bull in Audubon, Iowa, standing 28 feet tall and weighing 45 tons!
What Makes It Wonderful?
The town of Audubon may draw its name from the famed lover of birds, but its claim to fame has long been beef! In 1951, banker Al Kruse launched a campaign to put Iowa beef on the map with the simple act of requesting a more comfortable Pullman car for cattlemen to ride with the herd to Chicago. This was such a novelty that it snowballed into an annual festival called Operation T-Bone that’s still going on today!
Albert entered the scene on October 21, 1964, after the Chicago plants had closed and Operation T-Bone had become more of a local festival than a business trip. Named for Mr. Kruse, he was designed by Donald C. Olesen to be a giant Hereford, authentic down to every detail except for the blue eyes! Those were repainted to a more realistic brown in 2017!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Donate to the Audubon County Historical Society!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
How Do I Get There?
1108 E Division St
Audubon, IA 50025
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
Whenever the mood strikes you!
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