Carly Blustein is the organizer and editor of Bloggin’ America, an interactive fiction project that aims to paint a portrait of the American landscape through unconventional group storytelling. Catch her on her personal blog.

I have made enough road trips in the United States to understand a thing or two about the American highway system. It is nothing more than an outstretched circus sideshow with each act trying to outperform the next in all directions. You know you’ve seen them. The weird statues on the side of the road in each state—desperately hoping you will decide to use their kooky attraction as a pee stop. Everyone wants to say they’ve been to the site of the “World’s Largest Tire” or the “World’s Largest Artichoke,” right? And there’s no way of proving that unless you take a gazillion pictures or buy a T-shirt. We hope you brought cash. Oh, but if you didn’t… we have an ATM placed in the lobby for your convenience! Yes, these sites feed off the weary travelers looking for a cheap (or sometimes not-so-cheap) thrill. Here are a few of my favorites.

1.) The World’s Largest Chair – Anniston, AL


Don’t get too comfortable in this not-so-La-Z boy. This 33-foot chair, the trophy winner among other chairs across the country and world who have vied for this title, was built in the 1980s as an advertisement for Miller’s Office Furniture Store in Anniston, AL.

2.) The World’s Largest Thermometer – Baker, CA


It’s hard to compete with the shimmering lights and buzz of the Las Vegas Strip. Being so close to Nevada in the Death Valley region of California, the town of Baker had to do something. This location was also chosen because it is the site of America’s highest recorded temperature to date: 134 degrees Fahrenheit in Death Valley, CA, in 1913.

I don’t remember seeing this part on my trip, but apparently, a frying pan with eggs rests on a rock nearby as a permanent testament to the boiling heat of the local climate.

3.) Harold’s Auto Shop Dinosaur – Spring Hill, FL


This is a nod to my hometown—a wacky roadside truck stop as its own – Spring Hill, FL. We may be one of the most boring towns on the Florida map, but we do have something to offer the world: dinosaurs. Our little stretch of the U.S. 19 is home to two dinosaurs, approximately two miles from each other. The first is actually the shell of a functioning repair shop, formerly a gas station when it opened in 1964.

Its neighbor dinosaur is a bright pink dinosaur who serves no apparent function other than just being a dinosaur. Both are worth seeing if you ever find yourself in this neck of the woods.

4.) King of Kings Statue “Touchdown Jesus” – Monroe, OH


Jesus really was the jack-of-all trades. We all know about his magical stunts of walking on water and turning water into wine. But he was also a celebrated football player. Monroe, OH, chose to memorialize him for his sports achievements by erecting a 42-foot, roadside statue of him in a triumphant post-touchdown pose outside of Solid Rock Church on I-75.

Unfortunately, Jesus’s victorious moment was shattered when the statue was struck by lightning and caught fire on June 15, 2010. I was one of the lucky travelers to see the spectacle before it was destroyed.

5.) Foam Henge – Natural Bridge, VA


The area of Natural Bridge, VA, is what happens when a silly roadside attraction begets more silly roadside attractions and spawns an entire town of them. This dominates highway exits for several miles and typically leads to fast-food establishments and gas stations all catering to a miniature civilization of bizarreness.

Natural Bridge is home to, of course, the Natural Bridge. Don’t mistake this for the Natural Bridge National Monument in Utah. This one was formed after a cavern collapsed and left the small span of rock that stands there today. Somehow, thanks to no geological occurrence, this cavern collapse also led to the development of a toy museum, a haunted house, a wax museum, and Foamhenge.

Foamhenge is a full-size replica of Stonehenge made entirely of Styrofoam. This was designed by Mark Cline, a fiberglass sculptor, who we will discuss more in a minute. At first glance, you would think you were in England looking at the actual natural wonder Stonehenge.

6.) The Town that Time Forgot – Glasgow, VA


Speaking of dinosaurs and speaking of Mark Cline, he also designed a dozen of fiberglass dinosaurs who are inhabitants of “The Town that Time Forgot.” A real-life Jurassic Park, this town is just your typical middle-America-kind-of-town – plus dinosaurs. Tyrannosaurus Rex now stands beside the BP gas station, a Pterodactyl perches atop the hunting supply store, and a Triceratops guards the Mom & Pop Restaurant and Hotel.

7.) World’s Smallest City Block – Dothan, AL


I didn’t know how legit this was until I saw it posted as an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records. No larger than a tombstone, this tiny, gravel triangle includes all the components of a city block— a mulch median, intersecting street signs, a stop sign, and a yield sign. This gives a whole new, less impressive meaning to your grandparents’ claim of walking “ten blocks” to school in the snow.

8.) World’s Largest Turtle – Dunseith, ND


What do you do with 2,000 car wheel rims lying around in your garage? Well, build a turtle, of course! In 1982, George Gottbrecht faced that dilemma and decided to create the W’eel Turtle, in honor of the famous Turtle Mountains State Park. Best time to visit is Christmastime when the turtle dons a Santa hat. I can’t think of anything more festive than an enormous metal turtle celebrating the holiday season!

Bloggin’ America is about Ami Rehnquist, a 14-year old that has lived in the small town of Sweet Home, Oregon, all of her life. She, along with the rest of her family members, have never seen any part of the country outside of Oregon. A spontaneous idea takes flight when her family decides to leave all of their everyday possessions and obligations behind for a year as they move into an RV and visit every state. Take the journey with Ami as she posts continuous updates of her trip. The story cannot be told without the readers who help create it — readers like YOU! Follow her activities through her blog or on Twitter. Give her recommendations for places to eat/visit in the states of your hometown.

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