Welcome to Roadside Icons Midwest. In this section of Roadside Peek, check out the street character treasures from the great Midwestern part of the United States.

Sparta Bicyclist
Sparta, WI
Photo courtesy Dave Pophal

Here's a bicyclist who never has to worry about a flat tire. Ben Bikin' towers 32 feet above Sparta, Wisconsin, perched on an oversized penny-farthing bicycle. His giant front wheel and cheerful expression make quite a welcome to downtown.

Created by Sparta's FAST Corporation in 1995, Ben celebrates the town's claim as the “Bicycling Capital of America.” Sparta anchors the northern end of the Elroy-Sparta State Trail, making the giant cyclist a fitting landmark. A push-button recording adds a little conversation to the visit, sharing information about the community's biking heritage.

UPDATE: Ben Bikin' remains a familiar sight in Sparta and a favorite gathering point for visiting cyclists. Unlike the riders stopping beneath him, this fellow has been pedaling for decades without getting anywhere—and still looks happy about it. 07-26

Noah's Ark (Demolished)
St. Charles, MO
Photo courtesy Kelly Coalier

A pink elephant wearing oversized glasses is a good reason to take the next exit. Pinkie the Pink Elephant has been greeting motorists near DeForest, Wisconsin, for decades, adding an unexpected splash of color to an otherwise ordinary gas stop.

Located near Exit 126 off I-39/90/94, the fiberglass elephant belongs to a family of promotional figures produced by Wisconsin's Sculptured Advertising company. Similar elephants appeared outside supper clubs, stores, and other businesses around the country. Pinkie's bright finish and black spectacles give this one a personality that's easy to recognize from the road.

UPDATE: Pinkie remains a familiar stop for travelers heading toward Madison or the Wisconsin Dells. An interpretive marker explains the history of these advertising elephants, while the station offers souvenirs. Fortunately, seeing this pink elephant doesn't require anything stronger than a tank of gas. 07-26

Fresh Fish Hall of Fame
Hayward, WI
Photo courtesy Kelly Coalier

Here's one fish story worth believing. The Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum in Hayward, Wisconsin, features a giant leaping muskie more than 140 feet long. At four-and-a-half stories tall, this one would require considerably more than a bigger fishing net.

The museum opened its first exhibit building in 1976, followed by construction of the “Big Musky” in 1978. Made from concrete, steel, and fiberglass, the hollow fish contains stairs leading to an observation platform inside its mouth. Below, an 88,000-gallon pond completes the scene, while museum exhibits cover fishing tackle, outboard motors, and angling history.

UPDATE: The museum continues operating seasonally, with the Big Musky remaining its unmistakable centerpiece. Visitors can still climb inside for a view from the jaws—one fishing encounter where being swallowed is part of the attraction. 07-26

Chief Black Hawk Sign (Gone)
Rock Island, IL
Photo courtesy Kelly Coalier

The Chief Black Hawk Sign stood above Watch Tower Plaza in Rock Island, Illinois, for decades. This oversized sheet-metal figure gave the shopping center a landmark that motorists could recognize long before reaching the driveway.

Associated with the plaza's mid-century development, the figure was a commercial sign rather than a conventional statue. Its large outline once incorporated neon, adding nighttime visibility to an already conspicuous design. Severe weather toppled it in April 2023, ending its long watch over the property and raising questions about what would happen next.

UPDATE: Reporting in February 2026 confirmed that the sign survives in city storage. Its future remains unsettled, with differing opinions about restoration and public display. Anyone proposing to repurpose it must submit a plan to the city, so its next chapter has yet to be decided. 07-26

World's Largest Penny
Woodruff, WI
Photo courtesy Dave Pophal

Here's some pocket change you won't be taking home. The World's Largest Penny in Woodruff, Wisconsin, commemorates a fundraising effort that turned small contributions into something substantial. This oversized Lincoln cent certainly gets the point across.

Dedicated in 1954, the monument honors local schoolchildren who collected approximately 1.7 million pennies in just 104 school days. Contributions arrived from all 48 states and every continent except Antarctica. The campaign supported construction of a hospital championed by Dr. Kate Newcomb, whose work serving remote Northwoods communities earned her the nickname “Angel on Snowshoes.”

UPDATE: The giant penny remains in Woodruff, now sheltered by a completed protective pavilion. Nearby, the Dr. Kate Museum preserves the story behind the hospital campaign. It's a worthwhile reminder that a penny collection can accomplish considerably more than filling a jar. 07-26

Claire d'Loon
Mercer, WI
Photo courtesy Dave Pophal

Ever seen a loon big enough to look down on your car? Claire d'Loon stands 16 feet tall outside the Mercer Area Chamber of Commerce in Wisconsin. This oversized bird makes a fitting welcome to the self-proclaimed “Loon Capital of the World.”

Built in Sparta by FAST Corporation, Claire arrived in Mercer on May 22, 1981. She weighs approximately 2,000 pounds, making her considerably heavier than the birds heard calling across nearby lakes. A push-button sound feature lets visitors hear loon calls, adding a little Northwoods atmosphere to this roadside stop.

UPDATE: Claire remains outside the chamber, welcoming travelers along U.S. 51. Her imposing size and familiar black-and-white markings continue making her one of Mercer's best-known landmarks. Stop by for a closer look, although finding a birdbath large enough for her might take some searching. 07-26

Citgo Cow
Janesville, WI
Photo courtesy Dave Pophal

Here's one Holstein that won't blend into the herd. Bessie the Cow stands 16 feet tall and stretches 20 feet long beside Highway 26 in Janesville, Wisconsin. This enormous roadside greeter has been attracting attention since the 1960s.

Bessie became a landmark at the Janesville Oasis travel complex, where motorists could stop for food and lodging. When the property was cleared for redevelopment in 2006, the roughly one-ton cow faced an uncertain future. Fortunately, she was saved, refurbished, and relocated nearby instead of being hauled away with the demolition debris.

UPDATE: Bessie continues greeting traffic along Highway 26 with her familiar black-and-white paint job. The businesses around her have changed, but this oversized survivor remains a recognizable part of Janesville's roadside landscape. Apparently, redevelopment wasn't enough to put this cow out to pasture. 07-26

DeForest Elephant
DeForest, WI
Photo courtesy Dave Pophal

A pink elephant wearing oversized glasses is a good reason to take the next exit. Pinkie the Pink Elephant has been greeting motorists near DeForest, Wisconsin, for decades, adding an unexpected splash of color to an otherwise ordinary gas stop.

Located near Exit 126 off I-39/90/94, the fiberglass elephant belongs to a family of promotional figures produced by Wisconsin's Sculptured Advertising company. Similar elephants appeared outside supper clubs, stores, and other businesses around the country. Pinkie's bright finish and black spectacles give this one a personality that's easy to recognize from the road.

UPDATE: Pinkie remains a familiar stop for travelers heading toward Madison or the Wisconsin Dells. An interpretive marker explains the history of these advertising elephants, while the station offers souvenirs. Fortunately, seeing this pink elephant doesn't require anything stronger than a tank of gas. 07-26