World Art Utopia

Jolly Green Giant — Blue Earth

A towering green fiberglass Jolly Green Giant with hands on hips stands behind a Welcome to Blue Earth, Minnesota sign
Artwork FileBlue Earth, Minnesota

Jolly Green Giant

StandingJun 2026

Paid for by Blue Earth businesses, led by Paul Hedberg · fiberglass, 1979 · Green Giant Statue Park, Blue Earth, Minnesota, USA

Photo: Justin M. Skiba / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0), 24 June 2020, as published on Street Art Utopia.

The Jolly Green Giant in Blue Earth, Minnesota, is a fiberglass statue about 55 feet tall, bolted to its 8-foot base on 6 July 1979 near Interstate 90. Local businesses, led by radio station owner Paul Hedberg, paid for it; the Green Giant company gave permission but no money. Source Source Source Checked

Standing Jun 2026: Dated Wikimedia Commons photo (camera date 13 June 2026) shows the statue on its ‘Welcome to Blue Earth’ base Source Checked

More photos

Close-up from below of the Jolly Green Giant statue in Blue Earth, Minnesota, showing its grinning face, hands on hips and leaf tunic
2005 Face and leaf tunic up closePhoto: greefus groinks / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
The Jolly Green Giant statue in Blue Earth, Minnesota, seen from behind in winter, with the staircase up to its base and a red building beyond
2025 From behind, in winterPhoto: Myotus / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

💡 4 things to know

  1. A radio man’s ideaKBEW owner Paul Hedberg pushed for the statue after travelers told his radio show they wanted to see the Green Giant; he got permission from the company’s president. Source Source Checked
  2. Shown before it stoodIn 1978 the giant hung from a crane at the ceremony marking the joining of I-90’s construction crews; it was bolted to its base on 6 July 1979. Source Source Checked
  3. Not right on the interstateNo landowner would donate frontage, so the giant stands beside the county fairgrounds, about a mile from I-90. Source Source Checked
  4. Kept up by the townA cracked fiberglass foot was fixed in 2014 for $397, and a later refurbishing cost around $20,000, shared by the city, Chamber and visitors bureau. Source Source Checked

📍 Where it is

Green Giant Statue Park, 1130 Giant Drive, Blue Earth, Minnesota 56013, beside the fairgrounds off US-169, about a mile south of I-90 exit 119 Source Source Reported

Open in Maps

Opens a map at 43.65129, -94.0951.

🗓️ Sightings

  1. 1978

    Shown hanging from crane at I-90 ceremony

  2. 19796 Jul

    Bolted to its base

  3. 200517 Apr

    Close-up photo on Flickr/Commons

  4. 2014Dec

    Cracked fiberglass foot repaired

  5. 2018Jul

    Museum and welcome center under construction

  6. 202024 Jun

    Photographed (our photo)

  7. 2023Sep

    Wears Survivor Buff for CBS promo

  8. 202522 Jan

    Photographed from behind in winter

  9. 202613 Jun

    Photographed standing in the park

Green stamps mark dated photographs; amber stamps mark records or reports. Publication dates are not camera dates.

🗞️ In the sources

MPR News2023-10-19

Minnesota Now and Then: How the Green Giant became ‘Jolly’

“The statue, which stands at over 50 feet, cost around $20,000 to refurbish”

Read the source →

Center for Land Use Interpretation

Green Giant Statue, Minnesota

“installed instead at the local fairgrounds, a mile from the interstate”

Read the source →

✅ The facts

Height
About 55 ft (Roadside America: 55.5 ft) on an 8-ft base; the local Chamber says 60 ft Source Source Source Conflicting
Material
Fiberglass (about 8,000 lb) Source Source Checked
Built by
Creative Displays, Sparta, Wisconsin (later F.A.S.T. Corp), 1978 Source Source Reported
Installed
6 July 1979 Source Source Checked
Paid for by
Blue Earth businesses and residents, led by Paul Hedberg; $50,000 raised (Atlas Obscura) / $43,000 paid (MinnPost) Source Source Conflicting
Address
Green Giant Statue Park, 1130 Giant Drive, Blue Earth, MN 56013 (I-90 exit 119) Source Reported
Nearby
Green Giant Museum and welcome center, in a building opened across from the statue in 2018 Source Source Source Checked
Status
Standing; photographed on 13 June 2026 Source Checked

🔗 Related

All sources & image credits

Last checked: 6 November 2026 · How we verify art