NorsePlay Investigates: Big Ole the Viking!

Last year I flew to Minnesota and went on many adventures with some old friends who were willing to road trip to all extreme points of their wonderful state for the NorsePlay Investigates series of entries. This is the first entry about that trip, so stay tuned for more!

While NorsePlay has posted before about the 1965 CE World's Fair fiberglass statue that is Big Ole in Alexandria, MN, there's nothing like seeing the kitch Scandi-majesty of this roadside attraction firsthand.

[Big Ole & I raising our spears! Hails brother!]

Ole is supposed to measure at 28-feet tall, but in real life, he seems to tower wayyyy larger.


At its most basic, there's a sort of mini-golf quality sculpture about Big Ole -- a fiberglass hollowness, the bright enamel paint, theme park/casino lobby play deco, that pronounced stagey winged-helmet Wagnerian hyper-Viking image -- but Ole transcends all that.

[my pal 'Stine at right for scale.]

There's too much meaning & history pinned to him as a landmark figure. Ole's runestone visitation printed shield claims aside (and hey, we still have Leif Erikson & Co's visits anyhow), there's a much later hopeful immigration story here, one that wants of a distinct identity, mutual acceptance, & Midwestern belonging for Scandinavians coming off their boats in the 1800s to the United States.


There's definitely American Dreams in his purposeful creation, and something proud & Norse Saga callback in that heroic red-caped pose that we have to acknowledge.


In realizing all that weighty takeaway in Big Ole's undeniable significance, I'm doubly glad I went and got to spend some time with him. Go if you can.


[thanks to N' & 'S for taking me here. Love you guys.]

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Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires' Norse Gods and Giants at age seven. Since then he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the Map of Midgard project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay. If you have employment/opportunities in investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer, do contact him.

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