Here in Minnesota, we have a lot to be proud of. Not only is our state home to more than 10,000 lakes, but we also have a shoreline that’s one of the biggest in the world. And Minnesota superlatives do not stop there. We have one of the largest state fairs in the nation, and the Twin Cities are said to house the second-most theater seats per capita outside of New York.

Each of these feats is certainly impressive. But for the small town of Darwin, Minnesota, the state’s other natural and cultural accomplishments pale in comparison to what is on offer there. In this tiny town 60 miles outside of Minneapolis, the largest ball of twine built by one person draws in visitors from miles around. Read on below to learn about the history and stats of this Minnesota roadside wonder:

Darwin, Minnesota, is a tiny town 60 miles west of Minneapolis. With a population of just 350 people, you would expect Darwin to slide under the radar like so many other Minnesota small towns. But this town has a unique claim to fame.

Tony Webster/Flickr

In 1950, a local named Francis A. Johnson began rolling a ball of baler twine. He worked on the ball for hours each day, and he kept this up for 29 years.

Amy Meredith/Flickr

The result is a massive ball of twine that measures 12 feet across and weighs more than 17,000 pounds. It’s right on Main Street in Darwin, Minnesota, housed in a small pagoda that protects it from damage.

jpellgen (@1179_jp)/Flickr

Though you can’t touch it, you can look closely at the work that went into the twine ball. Different areas show the many knots tied to keep the twine together.

Scott McLeod/Flickr

The twine ball is free to visit. There is also a small museum and gift shop on the grounds. You can explore the hundreds of hours of work that went into creating this quirky wonder!

jpellgen (@1179_jp)/Flickr

Have you ever visited the largest ball of twine? What other roadside attractions in Minnesota do you enjoy? Let us know in the comments! Also be sure to check out our article about the Jolly Green Giant statue in Blue Earth, Minnesota.

Tony Webster/Flickr

Amy Meredith/Flickr

jpellgen (@1179_jp)/Flickr

Scott McLeod/Flickr

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Address: 1st St, Darwin, MN 55324, USA